"Just as it went by," said Chiles, "the pilot pulled up as if he had
seen the DC-three and wanted to avoid its. There was a tremendous
burst of flame from the rear. It zoomed into the clouds, its jet wash
rocking our DC-three."

Chiles's estimate of the mystery ship's speed was between five hundred
and seven hundred miles an hour.

As the object vanished, Chiles went back into the cabin to check with
the passengers. Most had been asleep or were drowsing. But one man
confirmed that they were in their right senses. This passenger,
Clarence McKelvie of Columbus, Ohio, told them (and a Project "Saucer"
team later) that he had seen a brilliant streak of light flash past
his window. It had gone too swiftly for him to catch any details.

The A.P. interviewed Mr. McKelvie soon after he landed, and ran the
following story:

{p. 69}

"Kennett Square, Pa., July 24 (AP) . Clarence L. McKelvie, assistant
managing editor of the American Education Press, said he was the only
passenger on the EAL Houston-Boston plane who was not asleep when the
phantom craft was sighted.

"'I saw no shape or form,' Mr. McKelvie said. 'I was on the right side
of the plane, and suddenly I saw this strange eerie streak out of my
window. It was very intense, not like lightning or anything I had ever
seen.'