Size of Object(s)

Object had a curved top with sides that came down to a blunt point on the bottom. Distance to the top of the tree was about 1/3 mile. Holding two fingers about 1/4" apart in viewing the object is about right. I estimate the object to bhave been 3' wide by 4' high.

Distance to Object(s) & Altitude

Distance to object was about 1/3 mile

Description of Area / Surroundings

Area is rural and wooded. There were five homes on the north side of the creek, and none on the south side. The Patuxent River Navel Air Station and Flight Test Facility is about 40 miles to the north. A necular power station is about 10 north of the Pax River facility. The Navy Surface Warfare Center at Dahlgren is about 40 miles west up the Patomac River.

Full Description & Details

My home at the time of the sighting was on the north side of Balls creek, a tidal creek off the Great Wicomico River, about 5 miles from the Chesapeake Bay. On the oppsite side of the creek across from my home is a tree lined bank about 50' high. Looking to the left the bank decends to a cove with the ground at just above sea level. At that time the south side of the creek was all forrest land.

It was about 3:00 PM on a clear February afternoon. I was sitting at my office desk behind a large window looking out across the creek. My attention was drawn to two large birds making tight circles about 25' above the top of a large tree at the back of the cove. I noticed a rustling in the top branches of the tree. My first thought was that another of the large birds was cought in the top of the tree. However, within several seconds a teardrop orb floated straight up out of the tree. At first it appeared silver but as it rose it became almost black in color.

It rose to a height just about equal to the height of the top of the trees on the high bank to the right. It then stopped and started floating to the right (west) against the prevailing winds. As it did so it seemed to be rotating slowly and then it emitted a bright flash of brillant white light. My impression was that it had some type of highly reflective panel on it that was reflecting the sun which was now low in the western sky. There were two more flashes of this blinding light as it floated from my left to right. Again, this was a clear sunny afternoon. After the third flash my impression was that the flashes were being emitted by the orb, and not reflecting sunlight.

I went to the upper level of the house which had a large deck across the front (creek side), but the object had vanished.

Although the floating was balloon like, I continue to be baffled by the following:

1) The very active rustling action in the top of the tree.

2) Floating vertically, stopping and then moving laterally. A balloon of whatever kind would continue up even if it were being pushed laterally by wind currents, and this was against a slight breeze from the northwest.

3) The brillant and blinding light flashes on a bright winter afternoon.

Can sighting be explained as any conventional man-made or natural object?

It was not a natural object, and it appeared to be controlled.

Witness Background

Military sales manager for kitchen equipment. Office in home. Work has always been construction related. Two years of college. Married for 38 years with two sons and five grandchildren. Hobbies: Golf, Boating, Fishing.

Views on UFOs, before and after sighting

I've read several books on UFO"s over the years. Several by Donald Keyhoe, and others. I view the possibilty of extra-terrestrial life about 100%, but visiting this planet at about 50/50. This sighting does not seem to fit the normal UFO sighting so it could have been some sort of military device.

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