In 1948, the US Air Force ordered an investigation into reports of objects in the sky. It wanted to gather evidence and determine whether the objects came from the United States or abroad.
The military wanted to know whether the reports pointed to a threat and whether it needed to prepare a response. It also expected the press to demand answers and knew silence would not be enough. Investigators examined about 180 reports. Many were explained, but not all.
What People Saw in the Sky
The reports described flat discs, cigar-shaped objects, spheres, and points of light. Investigators gathered more information, contacted people in the field, and examined the events themselves when they considered them especially important.
Some objects were identified as weather balloons or balloons used for scientific research. Investigators thought many of the round objects were probably similar balloons, but they could not confirm that in every case.
Venus, a planet visible in the sky, also appeared in the reports. People who saw it during the day described it as a round, silvery object high in the sky.
Why the Military Wanted Answers
The military was not satisfied with identifying some of the reported objects. It called for the investigation to continue until clear evidence emerged, so it could decide whether protective measures were needed. The request noted that the press would demand to know what the military knew. Silence would not be accepted for long.
Investigators found that a small number of reports had no plausible, ordinary explanation. But they found no objects or fragments that could be examined to verify the sightings. They also considered whether the objects might be vehicles from another planet, but found no evidence for that possibility.
What Remains Unknown
Investigators could not determine what the objects were in several reports. They recommended withholding information about the unexplained cases from the press and focusing on reports identified as balloons or celestial objects.
Several reports remained open, unexplained, and unsupported by any object that could be examined. What remained were descriptions, but no evidence anyone could put on the table.
