Tampa, Florida, USA, on August 1, 1946:
ACUFO-1946-08-01-TAMPA-1
Donald Keyhoe, head of the National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), received a letter written on July 24, 1954, by one Jack E. Puckett, who joined documents that established he was a military pilot of the US Army Air Forces, instructor pilot, on four-engine planes, having flown missions over Europe in World War II, and a the time of the sighting he reported, was Flying Safety Officer on the staff of General Elwood Quesada at the Tactical Air Command, 300th Base Unit, Langley Field. He was supervising all the operations, training operations, aerial incidents investigations, of all the air bases of the 300th AAF Base Unit.
What he reported first appeared in The UFO Investigator, NICAP's bulletin, in the August - September 1957 issue.
NICAP said that Captain Puckett explained that on August 1, 1946, he...
"...was making a scheduled flight from Langley Field, Virginia, to McDill Field, Tampa, Florida. At approximately 6 p.m., while flying a C-47 at 4000 feet northeast of Tampa I observed what I thought to be a shooting star to the southeast over the Atlantic Ocean. My co-pilot, Lt. Henry F. Gloss, and my engineer both observed this object at the same time."
"This object continued toward us on a collision course at our exact altitude. At about 1000 yards it veered to cross our path. We observed it to be a long, cylindrical shape approximately twice the size of a B-29, with luminous portholes."
Propulsion seemed to be by means of a powerful rocket blast, Puckett stated, because the huge device trailed a stream of fire approximately one-half its own length.
Captain Puckett and his crew continued to observe this object until it disappeared over the horizon. He estimated that the observation lasted from two and a half to three minutes, during which time the rocket craft must have traveled 75 to 100 miles.
Pucket explained that a complete report was given to the base operations section of McDill air base upon landing, that he was "satisfied that this was not an optical illusion."
NICAP asked the Air Force for this official report, and attempted to secure a separate report from former Lieutenant Glass, but apparently to no avail.
In a UFO report form made out for NICAP, Puckett estimated the rocket craft's speed at about 2000 mph. Describing the object as self-luminous, he insisted:
"I recall seeing portholes end lights inside this UFO. The object was at the same level as our aircraft."
This sighting report later appeared in several ufology publications: it was duly noted that portholes would mean that some kinds of occupants were in that object, and that the event would mean that the Air Force has UFO sighting reports on record before the famous Kenneth Arnold sighting of 1947.
| Date: | August 1, 1946 |
|---|---|
| Time: | Approximately 6 p.m. |
| Duration: | 3 minutes. |
| First known report date: | July 24, 1957 |
| Reporting delay: | Hours, 11 years. |
| Country: | USA |
|---|---|
| State/Department: | Florida |
| City or place: | Northeast of Tampa. |
| Number of alleged witnesses: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Number of known witnesses: | 1 |
| Number of named witnesses: | 2? |
| Reporting channel: | Official report, then letter to ufology group NICAP. |
|---|---|
| Visibility conditions: | Day. |
| UFO observed: | Yes. |
| UFO arrival observed: | Yes. |
| UFO departure observed: | Yes. |
| UFO action: | Approach, departure. |
| Witnesses action: | Observed. |
| Photographs: | No. |
| Sketch(s) by witness(es): | No. |
| Sketch(es) approved by witness(es): | No. |
| Witness(es) feelings: | Puzzled. |
| Witnesses interpretation: | UFO. |
| Sensors: |
[X] Visual: 3.
[ ] Airborne radar: N/A. [ ] Directional ground radar: [ ] Height finder ground radar: [ ] Photo: [ ] Film/video: [ ] EM Effects: [ ] Failures: [ ] Damages: |
|---|---|
| Hynek: | DD |
| Armed / unarmed: | Unarmed. |
| Reliability 1-3: | 2 |
| Strangeness 1-3: | 3 |
| ACUFO: | Possible extraterrestrial visitors. |
[Ref. iur1:] "THE UFO INVESTIGATOR" - NICAP:
|
An aerial encounter with a high speed rocket type ship in the summer of 1946 has just been revealed to NICAP by former Army Air Corps Captain Jack E. Puckett. The object sighted by Captain Puckett end the crew of his C~47 transport was described as twice the size of a B-29 bomber.
According to Captain Puckett, who was then Assistant Chief of flying Safety on the staff of General Elwood Quesada, an official report was made to Operations ot McDill Field. To date, no information on this case has been given out by the Air Force.
The UFO encounter, on August 1, 1946, is described by Puckett as follows:
"I was making a scheduled flight from Langley Field, Virginia, to McDill Field, Tampa, Florida. At approximately 6 p.m., while flying a C-47 at 4000 feet northeast of Tampa I observed what I thought to be a shooting star to the southeast over the Atlantic Ocean. My co-pilot, Lt. Henry F. Gloss, and my engineer both observed this object at the same time.
"This object continued toward us on a collision course at our exact altitude. At about 1000 yards it veered to cross our path. We observed it to be a long, cylindrical shape approximately twice the size of a B-29, with luminous portholes."
Propulsion seemed to be by means of a powerful rocket blast, Puckett stated. The huge device trailed a stream of fire approximately one-half its own length.
Captain Puckett and his crew continued to observe this object until it disappeared over the horizon. He estimated that the observation lasted from two and a half to three minutes, during which time the rocket craft must have traveled 75 to 100 miles.
"A complete report was given to the base operations section of McDill upon landing," Puckett told NICAP. "I am satisfied that this was not an optical illusion. I am enclosing two documents to authenticate my position and experience."
The records show that Captain Puckett had served as an instructor pilot, four-engine aircraft; that he had flown a tour of combat in the European Theater, WW2; and that at the time of the UFO sighting he was Flying Safety Officer, HQ, Tactical Air Commend, 300th Bose Unit, Langley Field. His duties included supervising all flying operations and training for all air bases with the 300th AAF Base Unit. In addition, he supervised the investigation of all aircraft accidents in this command.
In a UFO report form made out for NICAP Puckett estimated the rocket craft's speed at about 2000 mph. Describing the object as self-luminous, he added:
"I recall seeing portholes end lights inside this UFO. The object was at the same level as our aircraft."
This report bears a close similarity to the famous "spaceship" sighting by Eastern Airlines pilots Chiles and Whitted in July 1948. In each case a rocket shape twice as large as a B-29, windows, and a fiery exhaust stream, were reported by highly qualified observers.
NICAP is asking the Air Force for a copy of the official UFO report by Captain Puckett one this C-47 case. An attempt is being made to secure a separate report from former Lieutenant Glass to obtain such other details as he may recall.
The case will be sent .to our Special Advisers for evaluation as soon as all available_information has been received.
[Ref. dke1:] DONALD KEYHOE:
|
Next morning, I was wondering if Hieatt had decided silence was safer, when my administrative assistant, Mrs. Bessie M. Clark, brought me two reports.
"They're Air Force cases," she said. "They both look important, though one dates back to 1946."
I glanced at the other report, a Far East Air Force case, then turned back to the '46 sighting. It had been sent to us by Captain Jack E. Puckett, a 1946 Army Air Corps pilot. A photostat of his service record showed he had served as an instructor on four-engine bombers, and had flown combat missions in Europe. In 1945-46, he was on the staff of General Elwood Quesada, serving as Assistant Chief of Flying Safety, Tactical Air Command, Langley Field.
Captain Puckett's encounter had been on August 1, 1946 *. Flying a twin-engine C-47, he was on a scheduled flight from Langley to MacDill Field, Florida. The C-47 was at 4,000 feet, about thirty miles from Tampa, when he saw a bright object to the southeast. From its fiery trail and swift motion, Captain Puckett for an instant thought it was an early-evening meteor descending. Then he saw that the object was racing toward them, in horizontal flight.
"My co-pilot, Lieutenant Henry F. Glass, and my engineer both observed the object at the same time," said Puckett's report. "It continued toward us on a collision course, at our exact altitude. At about 1.000 yards, it veered to cross our path. We observed it to be a long, cylindrical shape approximately twice the size of a B-29 bomber, with luminous portholes."
The unknown machine, Captain Puckett stated, was apparently propelled by a rocket-type power, for it trailed a stream of fire approximately one-half its length.
"We continued to observe this object," reported Captain Puckett, "until it disappeared over the horizon. I estimate that our observation lasted from two and one-half to three minutes, during which time it must have traveled 75 to 100 miles.
"A complete report was given to the Base Operations Section of MacDill Field upon landing."
By the time I finished, Munsick was waiting to ask me about another matter. I told him about the C-47 encounter.
"That's more proof," he said, "that the Air Force had official UFO reports before Arnold's sighting in '47."
* Signed report in NICAP files.
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[Ref. rhl1:] RICHARD HALL - NICAP:
(Capt. Jack Puckett, at the time of his UFO sighting, was Flying Safety Officer, Hdq., Tactical Air Command, 300th Base Unit, Langley Field, Va. His duties included supervision of flying operations and training, investigation of all aircraft accidents in his command. He has served as an instructor pilot, four engine aircraft, and flew a tour of combat in the European Theater, World War II).
"I was making a scheduled flight from Langley Field, Virginia (August 1, 1946) to MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida. At approximately 6 p.m. while flying a C-47 at 4000 feel northeast of Tampa I observed what I thought to be a shooting star to the southeast over the Atlantic Ocean. My copilot, Lt. Henry F. Glass and my engineer both observed this object at the same time.
"This object continued toward us on a collision course at our exact altitude. At about 1000 yards it veered to cross our path. We observed it to be a long, cylindrical shape approximately twice the size of a B-29, with luminous portholes."
The UFO seemed to be rocket propelled, Capt. Puckett stated. The object trailed a stream of "fire" about one-half its own length, and remained in sight 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.
[Ref. obr1:] OTTO BINDER:
1944 - The foo fighters were first seen and kept appearing to the end of the war the next year. 1946 (before Arnold) - Captain Jack Puckett and his crew, flying a C-47, saw a cigar-shaped object flash past them at terrific speed.
[Ref. jmd1:] DR. JAMES E. MC DONALD:
Wingless, cigar-shaped or "rocket-shaped" objects, some emitting glowing wakes, have been reported by other witnesses. Thus, Air Force Capt. Jack Puckett, flying near 4000 ft over Tampa in a C-47 on August 1, 1946 (Ref. 10, p, 23), described seeing "a long, cylindrical shape approximately twice the size of a B-29 with luminous portholes", from the aft end of which there came a stream of fire as it flew near his aircraft. Puckett states that he, his copilot, Lt. H. F. Glass, and the flight engineer also saw it as it came in to within an estimated 1000 yards before veering off.
The source reference is detailed as : "10. Hall, R.H., 1964: The UFO Evidence, Washington, D. C., NICAP, 184 pp."
[Ref. dke2:] DONALD KEYHOE:
On August 1, 1946, Captain Puckett was flying a C-47 transport from Langley to McDill, with Lt, Henry F. Glass, the co-pilot, and an unnamed flight engineer. Thirty miles from Tampa they saw a large UFO speeding towards them on a collision course.
"At about 1,000 yards," reported Captain Puckett, "it veered to cross our path. We observed it to be a long, cylindrical-shape approximately twice the site of a B-29 bomber."
Apparently the machine was propelled by rocket power, for it trailed a stream of fire half its length. It disappeared at an estimated speed of 1,500 to 2,000 miles an hour.
But the startling part, to AF analysts, was this discovery:
The unknown craft had a row of portholes, This was the first report of UFO windows.
Incredible as it seemed, the portholes indicated there were living creatures aboard - or at least that the UFO was equipped to transport some kind of beings in spite of the heat and swift turns.
Some analysts believed the portholes were an illusion caused by the high speed. But other UFOs with ports or windows were sighted later by competent observers.
[Ref. lgs1:] LOREN GROSS:
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There was one rocket sighting at this time that was far from Europe. Army Air Force Captain J. Puckett was stationed at Langley Field, Virginia in 946. Besides being base Safety Officer, he was in charge of pilot training and was supervisor of flying operations. Captain Puckett had completed a tour of combat duty during the war.
On August 1, 1946, Captain Puckett was on a flight between Langley Field to Tampa, Florida:
"At approximately 6 p.m. while flying a C-47 at 4,000 northeast of Tampa I observed what I thought to be a shooting star to the southeast over the Atlantic Ocean. My co-pilot, Lt. Henry F. Glass and my engineer both observed this object at the same time.
This object continued toward us on a collision course at out exact altitude. At about 1000 yards it veered to cross our path. We observed it to be long, cylindrical shape approximately twice the size of a B-29, with luminous portholes.
The object trailed a stream of 'fire' about one-half of its own length, and remained in sight 2 to 3 minutes." 29
The reference of source, "29", is not detailed in the document.
[Ref. bpr1:] BRINSLEY LE POER TRENCH:
At about 6 p.m. - on 1 August, 1946, Captain Jack E. Puckett was flying a C-47 plane from Langley Field, Virginia, to MacDill Field, Florida.59
The aircraft was at 4,000 feet and about thirty miles north-east of Tampa when Captain Puckett and his crew were startled to see a cigar-shaped object hurtling towards them in horizontal flight at the same altitude.
When the cigar was about 1,000 yards distant it swerved to avoid them and as the UFO passed them the crew could see that the object was twice the size of a B-29 Bomber and had luminous portholes.
In addition to Captain Puckett, both his co-pilot, Lt. Henry and his engineer witnessed the object. When they landed a full report was given to the Base Operations Section of MacDill Field. A signed report of Captain Puckett's remarkable sighting is on file at NICAP headquarters. For some extraordinary reason, this important incident is not mentioned in the copious Condon Report.
The reference "59" is detailed as "Hall, Richard, Editor, The UFO Evidence, published by the National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), Washington, 1944".
[Ref. mbd1:] MICHEL BOUGARD:
This author indicates that on August 1, 1946, Jack Puckett, pilot of a transport aircraft, observed a cylindrical object or a cigar-shaped object maneuvering around his aircraft, which was then flying at an altitude of 1,200 meters northeast of Tampa, Florida.
[Ref. jvb1:] JOHANNES VON BUTLAR:
|
A similar event had occurred two years earlier, on August 1st, 1946. Captain Jack E. Puckett, a former fighter pilot during the Second World War who had become deputy director of the air safety service of the Tactical Air Command, was that day aboard a C-47 together with the co-pilot and an engineer. The aircraft took off from Langley base bound for McDill. Fifty kilometers from Tampa, the three men saw a gigantic UFO coming straight toward them.
- At about 900 meters, it suddenly changed course and crossed our path, Puckett reported. We were able to observe that it was cylindrical in shape and twice the size of a B-29. It left behind it a luminous orange trail. It disappeared at a speed that we estimated at between 2,500 and 3,200 kilometers per hour.
In the description given by the crew of the C-47, what especially struck the Air Force experts was the mention of a row of portholes. Should it therefore be concluded that the craft was piloted by living beings, beings possessing eyes?
[Ref. lwr1:] DR. LOUIS WINKLER:
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1946 Aug 1/Tampa, Florida/Lore-Deneault, SD (Aug 2, 1946)
A large, luminous object on a collision course with an airplane veered away at a distance of .1,000 yd. The object had port holes, a trail of fire and a rocket propulsion system. Seen for 2 1/2 to 3 min. In Sweden three additional objects were seen, one glowing and two others cigar-shaped that exploded.
[Ref. jsr1:] JOHN SPENCER:
GLASS, LIEUTENANT HENRY F.
Lieutenant Henry F. Glass, along with Captain Jack E. Puckett, is reported to have made a small piece of UFO history in August 1946 when flying a C-47 transport plane from Langley Field to MacDill.
On route the pilots saw a large cigar-shaped UFO speed across their course; they estimated it to be twice the size of a B22 bomber and trailing fire in an apparent rocket stream behind it. They estimated its speed at 2,000 miles per hour.
However, the most important point of the sighting was that they were the first people to report a UFO with rows of windows. The implication of windows or portholes was that living creatures might be aboard; it would be many years before entity reports would be 'acceptable' even to mainstream UFO researchers.
[Ref. jck1:] JEROME CLARK:
The author says that on April 5, 1946, Army Air Corps Captain Jack E. Puckett, then serving as Assistant Chief of Flying Safety on the staff of General Elwood Quesada, and the crew of his C-47 transport were making a scheduled flight from Langley Field, Virginia, to McDill Field, Tampa, Florida, when...
"At approximately 6 p.m. while flying a C-47 at 4000 feet northeast of Tampa I observed what I thought to be a shooting star to the southeast over the Atlantic Ocean. My co-pilot, Lt. Henry F. Glass, and my engineer both observed this object at the same time."
"This object continued toward us on a collision course at our exact altitude. At about 1000 yards it veered to cross our path. We observed it to be a long, cylindrical shape approximately twice the size of a B-29, with luminous portholes."
Clarke says that during the sighting, which lasted about three minutes, Puckett and crew noted a stream of fire shooting from the rear of the object; the stream was half the length of the UFO. Traveling at a speed Puckett estimated to be 2000 mph, the object eventually disappeared over the horizon.
[Ref. dwn1:] DOMINIQUE WEINSTEIN:
French ufologist Dominique Weinstein compiled a catalog of the cases of UFOs observed from aircraft. The first case in February 2001 (6th edition) catalog appears as:
|
| DATE | 46.08.01 |
|---|---|
| TIME | 18:00 |
| COUNTRY | USA |
| PLACE | 50 kn northeast of Tampa, Florida |
| M | |
| TYPE OF PLANE AND WITNESSES | a USAAF C-47 crew |
| DESCRIPTION OVNI | a cigar-shaped object with portholes followed by a trail of fire |
| Radar | |
| G | |
| X | |
| E | |
| SOURCES | 115/303 03 |
The source "115" is referenced at the end of the catalog as:
Les étrangers de l'espace, Major Donald Keyhoe (France Empire 1975)
The source "303" is referenced at the end of the catalog as:
The UFO Evidence, Richard Hall (NICAP 1964)
The source "03" is referenced at the end of the catalog as:
Project 1947 Reports, newsclippings and documents (cases from Jan Aldrich and Barry Greenwood)
[Ref. lhh1:] LARRY HATCH:
591: 1946/08/01 18:00 3 82:08:00 W 28:21:00 N 3333 NAM USA FLR 8:9
30mi NE/TAMPA,FL:3 C47 CREW/30K'alt:60M CGR W/ROW/LIT PORTHOLES >>NE:/r65p28
Ref#242 HALL,Richard:The UFO EVIDENCE /NICAP Page No. 23: IN-FLIGHT
[Ref. gvo1:] GODELIEVE VAN OVERMEIRE:
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1946, August 1 (July 24)
USA, northeast of Tampa (Florida)
Transport aircraft pilot Jack Puckett observed a cylindrical object maneuvering around his aircraft, which was then flying at an altitude of 1,200 m northeast of Tampa. (Michel BOUGARD: La chronique des OVNI - Delarge 1977 - p. 282) OTHER VERSION: At 900 m it changed course and crossed their path. Its size was twice that of a B-29, and it disappeared at an estimated speed of between 2,500 and 3,200 km/h. (Johannes von BUTLAR: Ovni, nous ne sommes pas seuls - Presses de la Cité 1979 p. 28)
OTHER VERSION: On July 24, 1946, at 6 p.m., the pilot of the C-47, Jack E. Puckett, and co-pilot Henry Glass saw above the ocean southeast of their position a cylindrical flying object with illuminated portholes. Its size was about twice that of a B-29. Flying at about 2,000 mph, the object had a tail of flames behind it, the tail being half its own length. It disappeared over the horizon. (UFO's, a Century of Sightings by Michael David Hall, Galde Press Inc. 1999, p. 24: citing Puckett’s letter of 24.7.57 to Donald Keyhoe, found in the CUFOS files)
OTHER VERSION: A cigar-shaped object with portholes and followed by a trail of fire. (PROJECT ACUFOE, Catalogue 1999, Dominique Weinstein)
[Ref. nip1:] "THE NICAP WEBSITE":
Aug. 1, 1946; Florida
Observation of cigar-shaped UFO by Air Corps transport pilot. (NICAP UFO Evidence, 1964, Hall, III)
[Ref. tai1:] "THINK ABOUT IT" WEBSITE:
Date: August 1, 1946
Location: near Tampa, Florida
Time: 18:00
Summary: Puckett case, military incident. Three military witnesses including a pilot named Puckett flying in a C-47 transport 40 miles north of Tampa, Florida sighted a cigar-shaped UFO with portholes that flew in front of the plane. Twin engine C-47, 4000 feet alt, cylinder about 2x size of B-29, with luminous portholes, distance 1000 yards. Speed 75 miles in three minutes, on collision course with aircraft, stream of fire exhaust 1/2 length of object.
Source: NICAP UFO Evidence, 1964, Hall, III
[Ref. get1:] GEORGE M. EBEHART:
August 1 [1946] - 6:00 p.m. AF Capt. Jack E. Puckett is flying over Tampa, Florida, in a C-47 transport and sees a long cylinder twice the size of a B-29 with luminous portholes. After 3 minutes, it disappears at a speed of 1,500 mph. ("Rocket Craft Encounter Revealed by World War 2 Pilot," UFO Investigator 1, no. 2 (Aug./Sept. 1957): 15; UFOEv, p. 19)
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The C-47 was the Douglas C-47 “Skytrain” (photo above), a transport aircraft of the US Army Air Forces, which was one of the military versions of the Douglas DC-3. It was a versatile, robust and easy-to-maintain transport plane, used on all fronts during and after the Second World War.
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The report is likely not well explainable by a meteor in my opinion:
There are some shortcomings in the report; I regret that the report Puckett said he made to the Air Force is nowhere to be found so far, and that the two other witnesses indicated were not heard.
It was possible that the witnesses names were pseudonyms; Donald Keyhoe often did this to protect the privacy of witnesses.
But I did find a "Jack E. Puckett" in the 379th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 525 Squadron, during WWII, a unit assigned to the Eighth Air Force in England, flying B-17 Flying Fortresses. Puckett was a B-17 pilot.
I also found Lt. Henry F. Glass, also B-17 pilot, in the 360th Bombardment Group over Europe during WWII.
Possible extraterrestrial visitors.
* = Source is available to me.
? = Source I am told about but could not get so far. Help needed.
| Main author: | Patrick Gross |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | None |
| Reviewers: | None |
| Editor: | Patrick Gross |
| Version: | Create/changed by: | Date: | Description: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Patrick Gross | May 16, 2026 | Creation, [iur1], [dke1], [rhl1], [obr1], [jmd1], [dke2], [lgs1], [bpr1], [mbd1], [jvb1], [lwr1], [jsr1], [jck1], [dwn1], [lhh1], [gvo1], [nip1], [tai1], [get1]. |
| 1.0 | Patrick Gross | May 16, 2026 | First published. |
