JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. (April 1, 2023) – The JBLM watch office was abruptly flooded with calls Friday evening from residents on and off-base with reports of a large balloon-like aircraft floating over south Pierce and north Thurston counties.
The citizens who called all agreed the unidentified object was not a typical hot air balloon, and it was flying at about 10,000 feet.
In the wake of a large, suspicious balloon flying over the U.S. in early February, and several others reported throughout the month, officials at JBLM took no chances and alerted local authorities as well as JBLM military units who keep watch over the skies of the western half of the country.
Due to the unknown aircraft’s relative low altitude and slow speed — according to reports — a military helicopter from JBLM was dispatched to find and investigate the sightings.
The helicopter pilots located the aircraft over Lewis County, south of JBLM, heading due east. They discovered it was in-fact a manned “balloon-like” aircraft — as reported— but it was unlike anything they’ve ever seen or encountered.
The JBLM helicopter pilots established radio contact with the unknown craft and quickly surmised it was friendly and posed no danger to the communities below.
The Army pilots reported to the JBLM watch office upon their return to Gray Army Airfield that the pilot of the balloon-like aircraft responded to their request to identify itself by repeating five words: “There’s no place like home.”
The pilots determined it was Dorothy and Toto on their way back home to Kansas from the Emerald City. They were allowed to continue on their journey with no further questions or concerns.
You can see a video of the event on the JBLM Instagram page – https://www.instagram.com/jblmwa.
(This concludes our JBLM Public Affairs April Fools’ Day community alert)
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