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E-006338LANDMARK CASE · HIGH CORROBORATIONDATE PRECISION: exactRECORD COMPLETENESS: 100%

Sperry American Airlines Torpedo-Object Encounter

May 29, 1950Virginia south of Washington, D.C., Virginia, United States

Captain Willis T. Sperry, First Officer Bill Gates, and Flight Engineer Robert Arnholt reported an approaching brilliant bluish light that stopped, darted around the aircraft, was silhouetted against the Moon as a narrow torpedo/ellipse, and then departed eastward.

// LINKED CLASSIFICATIONS:Elongated / Cigar / Cylinder(C-000255)→Scientific & Observational Types(P-000101)→
Claims are displayed with the source wording, locator, relationship and verification state. Competing claims remain separate rather than being averaged into a single answer.
SOURCE COMPARISON

Encounter · Reported Encounter Observation

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CLAIM-689094reported
“Sperry, Gates and Arnholt reported a brilliant bluish light approaching head-on, appearing to stop, darting left, circling to the right, and then departing rapidly eastward.”
The UFO Evidence
SRC-002107 · Sperry / Gates / Arnholt American Airlines case; uploaded PDF pp. 54-54
SUPPORTS
SOURCE COMPARISON

Encounter · Investigation Source Caveat

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CLAIM-689096reported
“Sperry characterized the departure speed as beyond known aircraft limits.”
The UFO Evidence
SRC-002107 · Sperry speed judgment; uploaded PDF pp. 54-54
SUPPORTS
SOURCE COMPARISON

Sperry Torpedo / Narrow-Ellipse Object (1950) · Reported Craft Appearance

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CLAIM-689095reported
“When silhouetted against the Moon, the crew described a torpedo-shaped or narrow elliptical body behind/around the brilliant leading light.”
The UFO Evidence
SRC-002107 · Sperry torpedo / narrow ellipse silhouette; uploaded PDF pp. 54-54
SUPPORTS
SOURCE COMPARISON

Hall Pilots & Aviation Experts Dossier · Investigation Source Caveat

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CLAIM-689087reported
“Hall argues that airline and military pilots are unusually experienced sky observers because their work requires repeated exposure to weather, aircraft, meteors, planets, and aviation hazards.”
The UFO Evidence
SRC-002107 · Section opening: pilot experience and evidentiary rationale; uploaded PDF pp. 52-53
SUPPORTS
CLAIM-689088reported
“Hall groups pilot reports into three broad patterns: geometrical objects, maneuvering or gyrating lights, and cigar-shaped or rocket-like objects.”
The UFO Evidence
SRC-002107 · The Patterns: three pilot-report groupings; uploaded PDF pp. 53-53
SUPPORTS
Multiple claim rows are intentionally retained when sources disagree. ANOMALY does not silently reconcile competing values.
SOURCE COMPARISON

Hall Pilots & Aviation Experts Dossier · Government Policy Decision

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CLAIM-689089reported
“Hall notes that airline pilots were included in the CIRVIS vital-intelligence reporting system and cites 1954 meetings between airline representatives and MATS intelligence to speed reporting of unusual aerial objects.”
The UFO Evidence
SRC-002107 · CIRVIS / MATS reporting-system discussion; uploaded PDF pp. 52-53
SUPPORTS