UFO Sighted in 1937 Near Milwaukee, Oregon

Summary

In November 1937, a witness in Milwaukee, Oregon, observed a large elongated object with an orange and white glow. The object was seen for an hour and was moving northwest before fading over the horizon. Although initially puzzling, investigators concluded it was Venus, as it matched the planet's exact astronomical position. The description and behavior of the object caused some confusion, but data confirmed it was not a balloon, aircraft, or unknown phenomenon.

The exact location of the sighting was four miles east of Gresham, and the report includes details about the object's position in the sky and trajectory. A control officer, Major C. W. Finnegan, reviewed the case and concluded it was Venus, based on the astronomical almanac. Despite the clarity of the explanation, the report shows how even in the 1930s, UFO sightings generated interest and detailed analysis.