Round object observed in Fort Smith in 1949

Summary

In April 1949, a man in Fort Smith, Arkansas, saw a round object heading southeast. He described it as a giant mirror, shiny and glowing. The object maintained a straight path and disappeared behind a row of trees. The observer, a 52-year-old man with college education, heard no sounds and detected no odors. Although initially considered a civilian aircraft, no flight records were found in the area at that time. The observation was brief, only one minute, but clear and detailed.

The official investigation concluded it was a civilian aircraft, though no evidence supported this theory. The report noted no weather balloons or experimental devices had been launched in the area. The observer mentioned others had also seen the object, but they were not identified. Despite the short duration, the detailed description and the observer's credibility led the Fourth U.S. Army to file the case under number S-30064.