Pilots Capt. Ernest W. Spradley of Aerial Photo Lab and Capt. James E. Cocker of All-Weather Flying Division both AMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, a General Mills Aeronautical lab project engineer Mr. McAleese (sp?) and an airman, were flying in a C-47 heading east (ESE?) at about 10,000-12,000 feet and tracking a Project GOPHER plastic balloon at about 50,000-70,000 feet when they saw a bright star-like object seemingly next to the pear-shaped balloon or above and to the side. As they approached and flew under the balloon they noticed the object descend to the balloon's level and grow larger in apparent size until about 1/4 to 1/2 the 70 feet balloon, when it appeared to be round and flat like a dime, milky white or silvery in color with a clear outline. Cocker and McAleese left the cockpit, went to the astrodome to observe the object. After three minutes they saw the object separate from the balloon and head west at high speed, after about one minute it emitted a series of three bright flashes like photo flashes at one second intervals and disappeared from sight.

One ball was observed by four military witnesses at an airfield for three to five minutes (Spradley, Ernest W; Cocker, James E; McAleese).

Google map of this location.