LTJG Joseph C. Shell flying discs sighting, May 27, 1949

1949-05-27·southern Oregon, near Hart Mountain and dry lakes (Swamp, Flagstaff, Campbell and Stone Corral Lakes)·USN·unresolved

Document cover

Page 1 of 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_5 · View original on war.gov

A naval aviator in a private aircraft observed 6 or 7 elongated oval objects in formation flying over Oregon at speeds of 190-260 MPH, with no visible propulsion, on May 27, 1949.

“While flying north in a private plane source, who is believed to be reliable, saw 6 or 7 "flying discs" in southern Oregon 27 May 1949. The discs are described as elongated ovals, perhaps 20' in length; they flew in a steady file formation at between 200 to 250 MPH; they appeared to be made of unpainted metal; no smoke or exhaust trails were observed.”
Verbatim from 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_5 · View original on war.gov

Case details

Date: 1949-05-27
Date exactness: Known to the day
Location: southern Oregon, near Hart Mountain and dry lakes (Swamp, Flagstaff, Campbell and Stone Corral Lakes)
Country: United States
Region: Oregon
Branch: USN
Unit: DIO-11ND at San Diego, Naval Intelligence
Sensors: eyewitness
Shape: elongated oval, perhaps twice as long as wide and five times as long as thick
Size: considerably smaller than a fighter plane, probably less than 20 feet in length
Altitude: 9000 ft

Resolution

Reporting officer concluded conventional aircraft, birds, balloons, astronomical phenomena, and auto-hypnosis could be eliminated as explanations; vertigo and canopy reflections ruled out.