Lake Mead Sighting

1947 June 28th

Summary

A US Air Force pilot in an F-51 was flying near Lake Mead, Nevada, when he saw a formation of five or six circular objects off his right wing. The official conclusion of Project Blue Book on this case was the pilot had observed a balloon cluster.

Blue Book File

The full Blue Book text has been reproduced below, see further down for links to the original.

PROJECT 10073 RECORD
1. DATE - TIME GROUP     28 June 1947	2. LOCATION     30 Miles NW Lake Meade, Nevada
3. SOURCE     Military	10. CONCLUSION     BALLOON CLUSTER
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS     5 or 6
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION     Not Reported	11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS     Object was circular, white heading S in close formation.
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION     Air-Visual
7. COURSE     120 Deg
8. PHOTOS     ☐ Yes     ☒ No
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE     ☐ Yes     ☒ No

Incident #53 -- near Lake Meade, Nevada -- 28 June, 1947

There appears to be nothing astronomical about this incident. According to the observer, the objects had a speed of 285 MPH and were moving on a course of 120°. Now, since the plane was moving at 285 MPH on a course of 300°, it is possible that the observed motion of the objects was only apparent (since 180° plus 120° equal 300°), and we can conjecture that a cluster of balloons (cosmic ray apparatus perhaps) was observed, the motion of which was merely a reflection of the motion of the plane.

UNIDENTIFIABLE OBJECTS
Williams Fld., Chandler, Ariz.
15 July 1947

MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE

    1. On 14 July 1947, 1st Lt Eric B. Armstrong, O-2059709, 170th AAF Base Unit, Ferry Division, Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas was interviewed and the following information obtained: Lt. Armstrong departed Williams Field, Arizona at [unclear, possibly 1400] CST on 28 June 1947 in a P-51 for Portland, Oregon, by the way of Medford, Oregon. At approximately 1515 CST on a course of 300 degrees, and ground speed of 285, altitude 10,000 feet, approximately thirty miles northwest of Lake Meade, Nevada Lt. Armstrong sighted five or six white, circular objects at four o’clock, altitude approximately 6,000 feet, courses approximately 120 degrees and an estimated speed of 285 MPH. Lt. Armstrong said the objects were flying very smoothly and in a close formation. The estimated size of the white objects were approximately 36 inches in diameter. Lt. Armstrong stated that he is sure the white objects were not birds, since the rate of closure was very fast. Lt. Armstrong was certain that the white objects were not jets or conventional type aircraft since he has flown both types.

AGENT’S NOTES:

    Lt. Armstrong was very sincere in the explanation and was not the exaggerating type. He merely stated that he saw and has drawn no conclusions as to what the white objects were.

Lawrence R. King, Jr., Special Agent, CIC, ADC

CERTIFIED A TRUE COPY

Signed
R. C. STEPHENS
Major, Air Corps

Ruppelt Summary

In his book The Report on UFOs, Edward Ruppelt provides the following account:

An Air Force pilot in an F-51 was flying near Lake Mead, Nevada, when he saw a formation of five or six circular objects off his right wing. This was about three-fifteen in the afternoon.

Links

• NICAP listing: http://www.nicap.org/470628ftmeade_dir.htm
• Blue book file (PDF, hosted by NICAP): http://www.nicap.org/docs/470628ftmeade_docs.pdf