AISS-UFOB-229-55 / OODI 5232 — 1955-07-21 — Richland, Washington (vicinity Richland Airport)

On 21 July 1955 at 1337Z (day), four civilian observers at Richland, Washington reported a tear-drop shaped, very large balloon-type silver object with plastic bottom at over 60,000 feet altitude, moving slowly south. The object was observed at 25 to 33 degrees elevation, 180 degrees azimuth, from the Richland Airport. Two pilots from the 322d FIS scrambled in F-86D type aircraft from Larson AFB to intercept, climbing to 38,000-45,000 feet at 55 knots tail wind; the pilots described the object as appearing to be a balloon at much higher altitude. Concluded to be a balloon.

extracted via: llm_subagent_v1