Chiles-Whitted UAP Encounter
On July 24, 1948, Eastern Airlines pilots Clarence Chiles and John Whitted encountered a torpedo-shaped UAP with two rows of windows and blue flame exhaust over Alabama. The object passed within 700 feet of their DC-3. This encounter led to Project Sign's famous 'Estimate of the Situation' that UFOs were extraterrestrial.
The encounter that nearly convinced the Air Force UFOs were real.
The Flight
On July 24, 1948, an Eastern Airlines DC-3 aircraft was flying from Houston to Atlanta at 2:45 AM near Montgomery when the encounter occurred.
The Pilots
Clarence Chiles (captain) and John Whitted (co-pilot) were experienced aviators and combat veterans who served as credible witnesses to the event.
The Object
They described a torpedo or cigar-shaped craft approximately 100 feet long with two rows of windows showing a bright interior and blue flame exhaust.
The Pass
The object approached to within 700 feet at incredible speed before it pulled up sharply and disappeared into the clouds.
Project Sign
The Air Force response included a serious investigation with technical analysis that produced the “Estimate of the Situation” document, which concluded the object was extraterrestrial, though the report was rejected by brass.
The Estimate
The famous Top Secret report proposed the ET hypothesis, but General Vandenberg rejected the conclusion and ordered the document destroyed.
The Legacy
The historical importance of this encounter is that it shaped Air Force policy regarding UFOs. Professional witnesses provided testimony that represented a near-admission of extraterrestrial presence, marking the point when the cover-up began. It remains a classic case in UFO history.
Sources
Chiles-Whitted UFO - Wikipedia provides detailed documentation of this historic encounter.