UFO sighted by pilot near Sandberg Pass in 1949

Summary

In February 1949, a U.S. Air Force pilot reported an unidentified flying object (UFO) during a flight near Sandberg Pass, California. The incident occurred around 8:30 PM on February 28, when the pilot described a saucer-shaped object performing complex maneuvers around his aircraft. According to the report, the object appeared at around 9,000 feet altitude, circled the plane in a 360° turn, and then made a 180° turn, disappearing to the south. The pilot noted that the object left a glowing trail, similar to jet engine exhaust, but no other pilot in the area observed it.

The official investigation found no conventional explanations, such as commercial or military aircraft, and no radar tracked the object. The weather was variable, with limited visibility due to fog and scattered clouds, making precise identification difficult. Despite multiple inquiries to air bases and control centers, no evidence of other flights in the area was found. The pilot, considered serious and reliable, denied any attempt at deception or hallucination. The case was classified and archived, but remains a classic example of UFO reports from that era.