White UFO sighted at Sandia Base in 1949

Summary

In April 1949, a soldier at Sandia Base in New Mexico observed a white, round object moving rapidly toward the northwest. The observer, Pvt G. H. B. Barnhill, described the phenomenon as a light following a straight path that suddenly disappeared, as if it were extinguished. The sighting lasted only eight seconds, but was clear and detailed. The report concluded it was a meteor, though no sounds or physical traces were recorded.

The object was about one-eighth the size of the moon and was 20 degrees above the horizon. Its speed was impressive, covering 15 angular degrees in just 8 seconds. Despite the brief observation, the official report deemed it sufficient to classify as an astronomical phenomenon. The witness, a military policeman with a hobby in model aircraft, was described as intelligent and serious, adding credibility to his account.