28930164.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED Incident #231

ATIC NO. ---
AF NO. ---
REPORT NO. ---
DATE OF REPORT ---
TIME OF SIGHTING 0125 & 0130 CST
SHAPE like boll with fan shaped glow
SIZE ---
COURSE ---
NO. IN GROUP 1
MODE ---
INLAND ---
SERVICES ---
Temporary ATIC Form 329
(2 Jan 58)

DATE OF INFO 1 Jan 48
LOCATION Abilene, Tex
SOURCE Male Civilian
DATE IN TO ATIC ---
COLOR Bright blue green
SPEED No apparent speed
MEASURED
ALTITUDE
METRIC
LENGTH OF TIME OBSERVED 2 sec
TYPE OF OBSERVATION ---
MANEUVERS stationary

UNCLASSIFIED
Insuff Info

UNCLASSIFIED

Incident #231 -- Abilene, Texas -- 1 January 1948

This incident has no astronomical explanation.

The fan-shaped glow that extended momentarily from the horizon to the zenith suggests a man-made disturbance -- electrical or explosive. The green color is the only characteristic that might connect this incident with the "New Mexico green flashes"; the rest of the description does not.

UNCLASSIFIED

INCIDENT SUMMARY SHEET
Incident No. 231

1. Date and Time of Observation: 1 Jan 48 1:25 A.M. & 1:30 A.M.
2. Where Sighted: Abilene, Texas
3. Observer's Position: ground (i.e., ground, air, control tower, etc.)
4. Name and Address of Observer: Abilene, Texas
5. Occupation and/or hobbies: N/S
6. Attention Attracted by: glow on the horizon - due west of Abilene, Texas (direction of White Sands Proving Grounds)
7. Number of Object(s) Seen: 1
8. Size of Object(s): N/S
9. Color of Object(s): Bright blue green
10. Shape (Sketch if Possible): Like bell with a fan-shaped glow surrounding
11. Nature…

Incident: 231

Information regarding this sighting taken from a letter of [redacted] addressed to Mr [redacted] to Abilene, Texas, in regard to Mr [redacted] who query regarding a phenomena he witnessed the night of 1 Jan 48 at approximately 1:25 A. M. and again at 1:30 A. M.

Object was described as a fan-shaped glow which originated from a large bell on the horizon and which extended to the meridian due west of Abilene, Texas, in a perfectly clear sky. Phenomena was of 2 seconds duration. Five minutes later it was seen again for the same length of time. No sound was heard.

Mr [redacted] tho…

UNCLASSIFIED
Fort Worth 1, Texas
1948, January 7

Mr.
Abilene, Texas

Dear

The brilliant blue green glow which you report as seen
due west of you at 1:25 A. M. and again at 1:30 A. M. January 1st, could
hardly be any kind of astronomical phenomena that I know of.

I am more inclined to think that it was either (1) some
sort of disturbance of an electrical system such as transformers blowing
out; or, (2) experiments at the White Sands Proving grounds which I believe
are exactly in that direction from you.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Dr.
of the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque…

No. 231: Another glowing green flare just as described above.

HEADQUARTERS
AIR WEATHER SERVICE
Andrews Air Force Base
Washington 25, D. C.

In Reply
Refer To: AFS DSS
11 May 1949

SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Objects

TO: Commanding General
Air Materiel Command
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Ohio
ATTN: MCIAXO-3

1. Reference is made to letter from your headquarters, MCIAXS, dated 9 March 1949, subject "Unidentified Flying Objects," and first indorsement thereto by this headquarters, dated 31 March 1949.

2. The incident summaries 173 through 233 have been checked against routine weather-balloon ascents made by the Air Force, Navy and Weather Bur…

UNCLASSIFIED
Fort Worth 1, Texas
1948, January 7

Mr.
Abilene, Texas

Dear Mr.

The brilliant blue green glow which you report as seen
due west of you at 1:25 A. M. and again at 1:30 A. M. January 1st, could
hardly be any kind of astronomical phenomena that I know of.

I am more inclined to think that it was either (1) some
sort of disturbance of an electrical system such as transformers blowing
out; or, (2) experiments at the White Sands Proving grounds which I believe
are exactly in that direction from you.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Dr.
of the University of New Mexico at Albuque…