Illuminated object over Fairfield-Suisun AFB — near-vertical climb

On December 3, 1948 at 2015 PST, PFC Bruce Earlin McFarland (1901st AACS Squadron) observed from the Fairfield-Suisun AFB control tower an illuminated object that appeared 2 miles north of the control tower at 500-1,000 feet altitude traveling at over 400 mph. The object slowed to approximately 200 mph, exhibited a slight undulating/bouncing motion, then made an almost vertical climb and leveled off at approximately 3,000 feet, before a second tower operator watched it make a fast climb toward the south-southeast to approximately 20,000 feet before losing it. The observer was convinced it was not an aircraft navigation light.

“The object first shot into view about 2 miles north of the control tower, flying at a low altitude between 500 and 1000 feet, climbing on a low trajectory, with speed estimated at something in excess of 400 miles per hour... the object took an almost vertical rise or climb and levelled off again at an estimated three thousand feet.”

Reported under Project SIGN. Two tower operators observed. Night was clear with winds southwest at 10 mph. A diagram/map of flight path was included with original report. No photographs available.