Location not stated reported light formation observation — December 3, 1948

On or during December 3, 1948, at or near Location not stated, the source reports the following sequence: OBJECT IN SIGHT: Object first got into view about 2 miles north of the Control Tower flying at low altitude between 500 & 4000 ft, climbing on a low trajectory with a speed estimated in excess of 1000 MPH. Sgt [REDACTED] reported the object almost immediately afterward started a fast climb toward the south-southeast and reached about 20,000 ft at which point he lost sight of it. PVT [REDACTED] never saw the object again after leaving to phone. It had the intensity of a Ramp floodlight and was so bright that it blanked out any silhouette (if any) when sighted in binoculars. No sound was herd nor was any exhaust trail observed. WEATHER B[ALLO]OON TWO SLASH FOUR FOOT SIL [ILLEGIBLE] VISIBILIT[ILLEGIBLE] MOON JUST RISE [ILLEGIBLE] WHEN PS SOM[ILLEGIBLE]OF DUTY SIGHTED OBJECT TO EAST AT -[ILLEGIBLE] ONE TO TWO THOUSAND FEET HIG[ILLEGIBLE] TRAVELED FIVE [TO EIGHT] MILES HEADING SOUTH EAST PD OVER FIELD STATIONED A PD [ILLEGIBLE] AT ABOUT [ILLEGIBLE] TO FIVE HUNDRED MPH TO TWENTY THOUSAND FEET [ILLEGIBLE] ERAFT[?] OF A LIKE CADENCE TO PASS 20-30 [TWICE] FASTER. Pursuant to paragraph two of letter cited above an investigation of the unidentified flying object has been made by the Intelligence Divis- ion, Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base using the 'Essential Elements of In- formation' Form-8 as guide. Future incidents of this nature occuring on the Base will be reported by this office regardless of organization making the observations. Where sighted: a. Ground: (1) City, town: Object was sighted by personnel in the Fairfield-Suisun AFB Control tower. (2) Distance and direction from city or town road, intersections, etc. Personnel sighted the object while standing inside the control tower 50 feet above ground level. (4) Map coordinates (if feasible) showing latitude and longitude: North latitude 38° 16' West Longitude 121° 56' b. Formation type (if any) (sketch if possible) One object was sighted.