July 3, 1949; Longview, Wash. (BBU)

10:40, 10:49, 11:25 a.m. (PDT?).  Aeronautical engineer Moulton B. Taylor with experience in USN guided missile and pilotless aircraft development was airport manager at Longview preparing for an air show when someone pointed out an object in the sky to the NW at about 30° elevation.  Taylor immediately announced this sighting over the public address system to the crowd of 150-200 observers, including pilots, who watched a metallic discus-shaped object cross the sky from NW to SE (track offset to the W not quite reaching zenith) with an oscillating falling-leaf motion along a straight path and occasional sun glints, estimated altitude 30,000 ft at 300 mph, approx. size of DC-3 [about 100 ft] disappearing in smoke from a wood pulp mill at about 80° elevation after a total duration about 2-1/2 to 3 mins.  A 2nd similar object was seen about 6 mins later coming from the N [or NNE] at about the same altitude/distance, at about 45° elevation, heading about due S on slightly curved path (concavity of path away from witness, radius of curvature about 15 miles), disappearing in the sun (about ENE [actually ESE azimuth 116° elevation 53° at 10:51 a.m. assumed PDT]) after total duration about 2 mins (on a possibly 8 mile long path [240 mph]). Then a 3rd sighting at 11:25 a.m. coming from almost due W [or WNW] at about 40° elevation, on a W-E straight line path (passing to the N, not quite reaching zenith) again at about the same altitude/distance at which time the oscillations were precisely timed at 48/min, and again disappeared in the sun (to the ENE [actually ESE azimuth 127° elevation 58° at 11:27 a.m.]) (again on a possibly 8 mile long path [240 mph]).  (BB Maxwell Microfilm Roll 6, pp. 1227-1240;  McDonald 1968)  3 + 2 + 2 mins 150-200 witnesses 1/5 - 2/5 Full Moon