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Cylindrical Object Shadows Pan Am Flight, 1947

Airline captain and navigator spot bright orange cylinder pacing their aircraft near Boston.

Event

May 8, 2026

Location

Pending

Source

PURSUE Program

65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130

AI Disclosure Brief

AI assisted

Reported Object Read

Pan American Airways Captain Alpheus O. Powell and Navigator Walter I. White independently observed a bright orange, cylindrical object with blunt ends, approximately 15 feet long, flying at 150-175 mph near their Constellation aircraft at 8,000 feet, 10 miles northwest of Boston.

Notable Characteristics

  • Color: bright orange / deep gold
  • Luminosity: bright, reflective
  • Size: length of P-40 fuselage (~15 feet)

Reported Motion

  • steady course, no maneuvers observed

Evidence Notes

  • Pilot interview summary (12 Sep 1947)
  • Navigator interview summary (15 Sep 1947)
  • Agent notes on witness credibility

Credible dual-witness aviation report from 1947 flying disc wave describes structured, luminous object not matching known balloons, targets, or aircraft; separate Birmingham photo included but unrelated.

Shape read

Cigar

Sensors

EYE

AI confidence

90%

Prosaic Leads

  • Pilot balloon (ruled out by witnesses)
  • Tow target (ruled out)
  • Meteorological device (ruled out)

Anomalous Indicators

  • Solid shape with no exhaust
  • Slow speed at altitude
  • Independent sightings of possibly distinct objects

Evidence Gaps

  • No radar or ground corroboration
  • Brief observation obscured by cloud
  • No pursuit due to airway constraints
External reference status: Unverified

Evidence Quotes // source statements

Open archive
Craft SightingAttributed claim
"Object was cylindrical in shape, blunt at both ends, bright orange hue; no gaseous dissipation like rocket exhaust."

Alpheus O. Powell, Pan Am Captain / Pan American Airways

Description of object observed from left side of aircraft.

Source
Craft SightingAttributed claim
"Deep gold color, surface reflected light; elliptical, blunted ends, 15 feet long, 2-3 feet deep."

Walter I. White, Navigator / Pan American Airways

Description of object observed from right side.

Source
OtherExact quote
"Mr. Powell appears to be a calm, intelligent individual, not given to flights of fancy."

Unknown speaker, Agent / Air Defense Command

Credibility assessment of witness.

Source

Pattern Mesh // linked sightings

No mesh nodes yet. As more vault dumps land, this graph teeth out.

Chronology Trace // before & after

No dated sibling signals are available yet.

Official Files // source material

1 linked
Pdf

65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Serial_130

·CONFIDENTIAL 62-83894-130 DECLASSIFIED Authority: NND 90986 IN REPLY REFER TO: HEADQUARTERS AIR DEFENSE COMMAND MITCHEL FIELD, NEW YORK 12 September 1947 SUBJECT: Unidentified Flying Object (Interview - Alphous 0. Powell) SUMMARY OF INFORMATION: The following information was received 12 August 1947 from Mr. Alpheus 0. Powell, 28 Redwood Road, New Hyde Park, Long Island, relative to the sighting of a possible flying disc 4 August 1947. On 4 August 1947, Mr Powell, an Airlines Captain with Pan American Airways, Inc., was the first pilot of a Constellation type aircraft on a flight from Gander, Newfoundland, to La Guardia Field, New York. Mr. Powell took over the aircraft at Gander, Newfoundland and departed at approximately 1230 P.M., Eastern Daylight Saving Time for La Guardia Field, New Y