Incident No. 79 -- April 1947, Richmond, Virginia
A weather bureau observer at the Richmond Station observed on three different occasions, during the six-month period prior to April 1947, a disc-like metal chrome object. All sightings were made through a theodolite while making pibal observations. On the last reported sighting, the balloon was at 15,000 feet altitude, the disc followed for fifteen seconds. It was shaped like an ellipse with a flat level bottom and a dome-like top. The altitude and speed were not estimated, but the object, allegedly through the instrument, appeared larger than the balloon. Another observer at the same station saw a similar object under corresponding circumstances, with the exception that her balloon was at an altitude of 27,000 feet and possessed a dull metallic luster. There was good visibility on days of observation. Report of this sighting was not submitted until 22 July 1947.
AMC Opinion: There is no readily apparent explanation. If there were only one such object, it seems amazingly coincidental that it would be seen four times near the pibal of this station only. On the other hand, there would have to have been a great number of these objects to rule out coincidence, and as the number of objects increases so do the chances of sightings by other witnesses.