Jan. 20, 1951; Sioux City, Iowa (BBU)

9:20-9:26 p.m. (CST). Capt. Lawrence W. Vinther, copilot James F. Bachmeier, passengers AF Colonel and aide, and CAA tower controller John M. Williams. At 9:20 the 2 CAA tower controllers sighted light in the W [NW?]. After Vinther's Mid-Continent Airlines DC-3 took off, he was asked by the tower to look for light, then while still in a climbing 360° turn at about 1,000 ft they spotted object to the NNW at about 8,000 ft and 4 miles away that looked like a B-29 fuselage with wings but no engines, which blinked some lights like running lights. Object came at the DC-3, flew across the nose within 200 ft, they had to turn their heads to follow it then suddenly found it instantly appeared on the other side again, paralleled them for 2-3 secs, then flew under them and disappeared in 2-3 secs to the NW. (Battelle Unknown No. 3; cf. NARCAP)