Case study · CASE-061 · Airline pilot sighting
Chiles–Whitted sighting
DisputedExplained (contested)Where Near Montgomery, AlabamaWhen 1948-07-24
Case
- Overview
- Eastern Air Lines pilots Clarence Chiles and John Whitted reported a cigar-shaped object with lit windows passing their DC-3. The case was central to Project Sign's disputed "Estimate of the Situation".
- Investigative phases
- Project Sign investigation; Blue Book file
- Reported phenomena
- Cigar-shaped object with glowing windows and exhaust
- Public evidence status
- Blue Book file at NARA
- Alternative explanations / caveats
- Bright meteor/fireball (later Air Force view)
- Next research tasks
- Retrieve file; locate Estimate of the Situation records
- Last reviewed
- 2026-11-11
Assessment
- Event date
- 1948-07-24
- Source category
- Blue Book file
- Original data accessibility
- Yes
- Witness / instrument basis
- Two pilots, one passenger
- Corroboration limitations
- Visual only
- Extraordinary claim assessment
- Explained as fireball
- Current status
- Explained (contested)
- Priority research task
- Retrieve file
- Lead source ID
- SRC-V86-31
- Last reviewed
- 2026-11-11
Evidence (1)
- Chiles–Whitted airline sighting file Documented
Documents gathered (1 line of evidence)
- Chiles–Whitted airline sighting file Primary record linked