presents
The 1953 UFO Chronology
 Many "Unknowns", AFR 200-2, Project MAGNET, Air Force Jet Disappears, Diffraction Cameras

The Drury Film, Aug. 23, 1953, Australia, an "Unknown"

Map of sightings, courtesy of Larry Hatch's *U* Database at http://www.larryhatch.net/YDAY52.html


Created  Jan. 13, 2005; updated 8 Oct. 2007

Francis Ridge:
This is a 13-page report on an on-going project, and it will take many months, if not years, to get active links to cases all in place. Many sightings have no details and are those selected By Dr. James E. McDonald as those worthy of inclusion in this report as we locate them. With the help of William Wise (Project Blue Book Archive), and Dan Wilson (digging out the cases from my checklist), the task was much easier. But without Brad Sparks' Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns, the entire project would have been impossible. Sparks also provided several historic entries. And our thanks go to Jean Waskiewicz who created the online NICAP DBase (NSID) that helped make it possible to link from the cases to the reports themselves. Others who provided information are also noted with their contributions.

The latest addition is the link to CUFON's web page on the 68-page July 25 restricted AF document, How to Make FLYOBRPTS, provided to CUFON by Michael Swords and Jan Aldrich in December of 2000.

The 1953 Chronology________________________________________________________

NARA-PBB1-90 - January 1-24 Sightings
NARA-PBB1-91 - January 25-31 Sightings

1953; Anaco, Venezuela
Avensa Airlines pilot reported round gray object paced plane. [UFOE, X] 

1953; Location unknown
Navy Carrier-based squadron of attack planes approached by rocket-shaped UFO. [UFOE, IV]

Jan. 1, 1953; Mobile, Alabama (BBU)
Brookley AFB USAF Capt. and senior pilot saw to the W from a drive-in theater a bluish-white object 1­ 2 ft size with a short exhaust trail in rapid level flight left to right through 80° arc about 2,000-3,000 ft altitude, 1 mile distance, 250-300 knots speed, started climbing turn at the end and suddenly disappeared like turning off a light. (Hynek-CUFOS­ Willy Smith files)

Jan. 1, 1953; Craig, Montana (BBU 2315)
8:45 p.m. (MST). Warner Anderson and 2 women saw a silver, saucer-shaped object with a red glowing bottom, fly low over a river then climb fast in a horizontal attitude. (Berliner; PBB Status Rep. No. 10 )

Jan. 4, 1953 - The Aircraft Flash, Official G.O.C. Magazine, Vol I, NO. 4, January, 1953
"Unidentified Aerial Objects" Receive Careful Analysis by Air Force Experts. "It is the responsibility of the United States Air Force to be aware of anything that does or can happen in the skies. The Ground Observer Corps shares this responsibility, since it is "the eyes and the ears of the Air Force." (Courtesy of CUFON)
Jan. 6, 1953; Duncanville, TX [and Oklahoma City, OK?] (BBU) (Item # 6 on Chop Clearance List)
1/1:05 a.m. (CST). The 147th AC&W Squadron, Duncanville, Texas, was notified by the CAA ARTCC at Meecham Field, Fort Worth, Texas, that they received numerous calls of an unidentified flying object northeast of Dallas, Texas. The AC&W unit at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, reported that they had picked up a target by radar twenty miles southwest of Paris, Texas. This target was moving moving west at an estimated speed of 600 knots at 7,500 feet in altitude. An arrowhead-shaped object was seen by some witnesses. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Jan. 8, 1953; Larson  AFB, Moses Lake, Wash. (BBU)
7:15-7:30 a.m. [8:15 a.m. PST?] USAF 82nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron personnel, including squadron commander, all on the ground, saw a green, disc­ shaped or round object fly SW, with a vertical bobbing motion and sideways movements, below the overcast clouds at 13,000 ft against the wind from 240°. (Berliner; McDonald 1968)

Jan. 9, 1953; Misawa AFB, Japan (BBU)
6:50 p.m. (McDonald list) Northern Japan. Pilot and radar observer of an F-94 jet interceptor saw and tracked a rotating UFO. Air base Commander, Col. George W. Perdy, stated there was "remarkable corroboration as to description of the cluster of lights by people widely separated who hadn't so much as talked to one another." (UFOE)
 
Jan. 9, 1953; Santa Ana, CA
The crew of a B-29 bomber watched a V-formation of blue-white lights bank near the bomber, then climb away. (UFOE, III)

Jan. 10, 1953; 8 miles NW of Sonoma, Calif. (BBU 2326)
3:45 or 4 p.m. [4:45 p.m. PST?] Retired AF Col. Robert McNab, and Mr. Hunter of the Federal Security Agency saw a flat object to the NW at 45° elevation traveling about 2,400 mph make three 360° right turns in 2-3 secs each in about 1/8 radius required for jets [i.e., about 1/4 mile radius and 300 g's], two abrupt 90° turns to the right and left, each turn 5 secs apart, almost stop, accelerate to original high speed, almost stop again, speed up again and finally fly out of sight vertically. Sound similar to F-86 at high altitude. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 115-6)


Report of Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects Convened by Office of Scientific Intelligence, CIA. (Credit: Brad Sparks obtained the full declassification of the Robertson Panel Report and Durant Memo by the CIA with all sanitized redactions filled in, in 1974.Copy by CUFON)

Jan. 17, 1953; Near Guatemala City, Guatemala (BBU 2337)
3:55 p.m. Geologist/salesman J. J. Sackett saw a brilliant green-gold object, shaped like the Goodyear blimp with length/height ratio 2:1, fly 400 mph straight and level, stop, then fly straight up with one stop. (Berliner)
 

January 22, 1953
Santa Fe New Mexican: "A fireball expert said today Russia may be scouting the United States and other parts world with strange new guided missiles. Dr. Lincoln LaPaz said a good many shreds of evidence point to green fireballs sighted throughout the world being a type of missile - possibly of Soviet make." (Associated Press)

Jan. 22, 1953; Harmon AFB, Newfoundland
An unidentified flying object described as red, white and blue and oval-shaped, was observed visually from the weather station, control tower, base operations office, and a nearby AC&W site at Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, at 0040 Z. An attempt to contact the object by radar met with negative results. (NARA-PBB85-812)

Jan. 22, 1953; Patrick AFB, FL
At 2400 Z four airmen at Patrick AFB, Florida, visually observed for three minutes a fiery red-orange ball traveling soundlessly from north to south at high speed. (NARA-PBB85-813)

Jan. 23, 1953; Bergstrom AFB, Texas (BBU)
3:40 p.m. (CST). (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Jan. 26, 1953; Continental Divide, NM
At 2115 MST Air Force personnel stationed at an AC&W station in this area observed an aerial phenomenon simultaneously by electronic and visual means. To the naked eye the object appeared as a very bright reddish-white object estimated to be 10 miles west of the radar site. The object passed behind a hill and then reappeared apparently heading in a northerly direction at a slow speed. The airman making this visual observation reported it to personnel manning the radar equipment. They stated that they had an unidentified blip on the radar scope, appearing west of the station approximately 9 miles away. The scope showed the object to be on a 270 azimuth at an altitude of 10-15,000 moving away from the site at 12-15 mph. It was eventually lost on radar at the 18 mile range. The object was under visual and radar observation intermittently for 45 minutes. (NARA-PBB85-814)

Jan. 26, 1953; Sampson AFB, NY
At 2320 Z an airman at Sampson AFB, New York, visually observed one large luminous rectangular shaped unidentified flying object. In one minute the object traveled through an arc of 70 or 80 degrees, while emitting a humming sound. (NARA-PBB85-816)

Jan. 27, 1953; Livermore, Calif.
Pilot watched shiny circular object in high-speed climb. [UFOE, V]

Jan. 28, 1953; Point Mugu, Calif. (BBU 2361)
1:06 p.m. R.W. Love, owner of Love Diving Co., and Mr. Ferrenti, while engaged in retrieving radio-controlled drones on a boat 1,100 yards offshore S of the Pt. Mugu Naval Air Missile Training Center, saw an 18-20-inch white, flat disc with fuzzy or shimmering edges rapidly approach from about 305° azimuth (about NW) fly straight and level overtaking a jet aircraft flying at 150-200 knots in 3 secs, pass overhead, disappearing in haze to the E. (Berliner; cf. Jan Aldrich)

Jan. 28, 1953. Corona, Calif. (BBU 2364)
6:05 p.m. USAF T/Sgt. George Beyer saw five 25 ft green spheres fly in V-formation, then change to trail formation at which time the end objects turned red. (Berliner)

Jan. 28, 1953; Albany, Ga. Air Force F-86 pilot saw a definite circular UFO pass below his plane, confirmed by radar. [UFOE, VIII]

Jan. 28, 1953; Turner AFB, Dobbins, Georgia BBU 2365)
9:40-10:00 p.m. (EST). USAF senior pilot at Moody AFB, Major Hal W. Lamb, apparently saw the setting planet Venus changing color and shape (at 267°-270° azimuth 3° elevation  dropping below horizon, his estimates varying from 250° to 295°-310° azimuth) while flying a T-33, also seen by Turner AFB tower operators (with time errors of about 10 mins). At about 9:40-9:48 (reported as 9:50-9:58) 2 GCA radar maintenance men at Turner AFB radar tracked 3 moving targets and a stationary target (at due W 270° azimuth 26 miles?). At 10:00 (reported as 10:10), the GCA reported 2 stationary targets at 17 and 27 (or 23­ 27?) miles both 300° azimuth. No visual confirmation though binoculars used. (Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Jan. 28, 1953; St. Georges, Delaware (BBU)
5:18 p.m. (EST). 4 witnesses driving S on St. Georges Bridge, 3 of whom were members of UFO investigation group, Mrs. Gene Thropp, Mrs. Lucille T. Nichols and Mrs. W. Forman, saw a rose-orange 7-inch [?] shiny disc-shaped object with a "white tail" at their 8 o'clock position heading S at about 10° above the horizon traveling about 100 mph, no sound no trail. Object seen through binoculars reversed course to the N then continued alternating heading N to S. (Jan Aldrich)

Jan. 29, 1953; Presque Isle AFB [Caswell?], Maine (BBU)
[9:55 a.m. (EST) ?] Three or more fighters (at least one F-94) saw gray oval UFO (from 7th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and other squadrons). Radar tracking ? by Air Defense Direction Center. (Hynek UFO Rpt p. 58)

Jan 29, 1953; Conway, So. Carolina (BBU)
10:45 p.m. Mr. Boothe heard commotion of animals, grabbed gun, saw oblong-shaped lighted object 10 ft above trees slowly moving or stationary, low humming sound. Boothe shot at the object 2x, first bullet bounced off with metallic sound, at second shot object tilted slightly went up at 65° angle to the W at 600-700 mph and disappeared. Cattle deaths claimed connected by townspeople. (Jan Aldrich/CUFOS files)

Jan. 30, 1953; Yuma, Ariz.
Gyrating light ascending steeply, observed by scientist. [UFOE, VI]


Briefing of the Office of Naval Estimates Board by CIA on Unidentified Flying Objects, included the showing of the Utah and Montana films.


Feb. [deleted], 1953; Finland AFS, Minn. (BBU)
6:29 a.m. (CST). (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 1, 1953; Terre Haute, Indiana
Sighting by USAF pilot (no details released). [UFOE, III]

Feb. 3, 1953; Keflavik Airport, Iceland (BBU 2384)
5:25 p.m. Radar operators tracked 4 unidentified targets. No further data. (Berliner)

Feb. 6, 1953; Rosalia, WA (Item 34 on Chop Clearance List)
A very accurate sighting description, showing object circled as B36 approached it, and light commenced flashing at short intervals. The aircraft was in flight in the vicinity of Spokane, Washington, when one round white omni-directional light was sighted at 0913Z time. The light was at an altitude of approximately 7,000 feet on a southeast course circling and rising as it proceeded.  It was visually observed for a period of three to five minutes. The B-36 made 180 degree descending turn toward the light which was estimated to be moving at a speed of 150 to 200 knots. The aircraft was inbound to Spokane 15 miles out and located over Rosalia, Washington.

Feb. 4, 1953; Yuma, Ariz. (BBU 2388)
1:50-55 p.m. U.S. Weather Bureau observer Stanley H. Brown, using a theodolite, tracked to the E [W?] at 107° [270°?] azimuth 53° elevation a white, oblong object almost round, with a solid dull pure white color and a thin white mist completely edging it, flying straight up, leveling off. After 20 secs 1st object was joined by a 2nd similar object that twice flew away and returned to the 1st. Both lost to sight behind clouds to the SSW at 204° azimuth 29° elevation after 5 mins timed with stopwatch. (Berliner; McDonald 1968)

Feb. 6, 1953; Rosalia, Wash. (BBU)
1:37 a.m. (PST). USAF pilot of B-36 saw a blinking white light turn and disappear. (Project 1947; McDonald list)


Feb. 7, 1953; Korean area.
A bright orange light changed altitude and accelerated away from a pursuing F-94 jet interceptor as ground radar tracked the UFO. [UFOE, III, VIII]

Feb. 7, 1953; Okinawa (BBU)
9:22 p.m. USAF F-94 crew and other witnesses saw a bright orange object change color to red and green at intervals, disappear behind a cloud, ground radar tracking. (Project 1947; McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 8, 1953; Barter Island, Alaska (BBU)
4:50 a.m. (AHST). Military pilot [and another witness?] working at airstrip heard a deep heavy sound and saw brilliant round white object with small ray-like appendages descending in a falling-leaf motion but without the upward swings, then hovered, moved about 50 ft against the wind to original position, after 45 secs began to climb using reverse falling-leaf maneuver, picked up speed changing color to orange tint. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 9, 1953; Virginia,  N.C.
Border. Marine Corps pilot chased rocket-like object. [UFOE, IV]

Feb. 9, 1953; Nr. Washington, D.C.
A Marine Corps fighter pilot, alerted by a Navy facility in Norfolk, searched for a silver, maneuvering object that had been seen from the ground near the Virginia-North Carolina border. The F9F Panther pilot at first saw nothing and was returning to the base. He then saw "what looked like an airplane with red lights which appeared below me... What caused me to look back at the object," said 1st Lt. Ed Balocco, "was the fact that it moved from below me 10,000 feet vertically in a matter of seconds." He turned to investigate and chased the object at speeds over 500 mph for 3-4 minutes, but could not close in on it.

Feb. 10, 1953; Misawa AFB, Japan (BBU)
6:45 p.m. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 11, 1953; Bet. Tunis, Tunisia, and Tripoli, Libya (BBU)
8:45 p.m. (GMT). USAF C-119 transport crew saw a disc pass the plane. (Project 1947; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 13, 1953; Carswell AFB, Ft. Worth, Texas (BBU)
2:35 a.m. (CST). Pilots and crew of B-36 aircraft (one named Ruth) saw 3 bright lights of equal intensity in stacked vertical echelon formation approaching at moderately high speed (cruise speed of F-86), one object suddenly accelerated then came to complete halt and the other 2 objects did the same, then returned to original formation and repeated the maneuver, ending in a horizontal echelon with center object the pivot, then all climbed steeply in "swinging" motion at high speed. Possible ground radar contact. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 13 [12?], 1953; Vichy, Missouri (BBU)
8:30 p.m. USAF Capt. Robert Bailey, his FO, and crew chief of C-47 transport at 7,000 ft, 170 knots (200 mph) airspeed, heading 43° (NE), saw a small round light as they neared the Vichy Radio Range Station. Light changed intensity and looked like it was on collision course at 238° bearing [heading? from behind or in front??]. Bailey turned on landing lights to try to signal it, light then stopped its approach, flew off their left wing at about 1 mile while changing color from red to amber to green. After 5-10 mins the light dropped back, increased speed, made 3 dives and zooms on a parallel course before disappearing. (NARCAP; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 16, 1953; Ramer, Alabama (BBU)
5:30 p.m. (EST). Hawk and Stern. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 16, 1953; Turnagain Arm (S of Anchorage) [Willow? Alaska (BBU)
11:50 p.m.­ 12:05 a.m. [11:45 p.m. (AHST) ?]. C-47 crew pursued nocturnal light which was below horizon, then ascended, hovered, maneuvered, disappeared. Initially to the E, after hovering, C-47 turned to pursue on 345° heading, object accelerated, brightened and decreased in size, C-47 chased at 270°-290° heading to disappearance in 45 secs. (Willy Smith pp. 43-48; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 17, 1953; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (BBU)
6:55 p.m. (AHST). Ground observers and fighter interception. Nocturnal light with rapid vertical takeoff. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 17, 1953. Port Austin, Mich. (BBU 2419)
10:04-10:25 p.m. 2 officers and 3 airmen of USAF AC&W squadron saw an object larger and brighter than a star, changing color, moving slowly until 10:09. Radar tracked a target at 10:08 moving in a similar direction for 17 mins, at similar speed. (Berliner)

Feb. 20, 1953; Pittsburg-Stockton, Calif. (BBU 2426)
Sighting #1 time unknown; #2, 10:30 [11:30 PST?] p.m. USAF B-25 bomber pilots. Sighting #1, a bright yellow light seen for 8 mins. Sighting #2, a bright light flew on a collision course, dimmed and climbed away fast. (Berline; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 24, 1953; Sherman, Texas (BBU 2441)
7:43 p.m. Warrant Officer and Mrs. Alden saw 2 bright red, round objects with big halos fly in small circles, climb and fade. (Berliner)

Feb. 25, 1953; Charleston, West Virginia (BBU)
3:30 p.m. (EST). (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 27, 1953; Great Falls AFB, Montana (BBU)
3:16 a.m. (MST). (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

Feb. 27, 1953. Shreveport, Louisiana (BBU 2543)
11:58 a.m.- 12:02 p.m. USAF airman/private pilot saw 5 yellow discs make circular turns, flutter, 3 vanished first, then the other 2 flew erratic square turns. (Berliner)



March 3, 1953; 130 miles W of Luke AFB, Phoenix, Ariz., near Blythe, Calif. (BBU)
1:25-1:32 p.m. (MST). USAF Capt. Roderick D. Thompson, 3600th Fighter Training Group, Luke AFB, instructor pilot in an F-84 at 25,000 ft 500 mph TAS heading 305° Mag spotted 300-500 ft wide aircraft leaving contrail crossing his path at 2 [10?] o'clock high position from left to right at about 35,000 to 45,000 ft and about 400 mph TAS, visible only by condensation vapor emitted from manta-ray shape flat surface. Student pilots of two F-84’s, Lt. Jack E. Brasher and Lt. Thomas W. Hale, saw the object but did not follow the pursuit. When Thompson turned (right?) to pursue object climbing at full power at about 560 mph, object made slight dipping turn to NW and began climbing at about 20° angle and object appeared to be very thin, and immediately began to form a heavy condensation trail behind it for roughly 1,000 ft and split in two for about 1,000 ft but which ended abruptly and moved with the object, the trail not being left behind. Thompson reached 30,000 ft and closed to within roughly 5-10 miles of object to a point over Colorado River N of Parker Dam, about 70 miles N of Blythe, when he took 151 frames or about 30 ft [6 ft?] of gun camera film of object, 16 mm N-9 camera, apparently at 16 fps 1/40 sec exposure setting. (BB Rpt 11; NICAP website; McDonald list; Ruppelt pp. 229-230; FUFOR Index)

March 5, 1953; Congaree AFB, South Carolina (BBU)
3:45 p.m. (EST). (McDonald list)

March 5, 1953; Shaw AFB, South Carolina (BBU)
5:07 p.m. (EST). (McDonald list)


March 7, 1953; Yuma, Arizona
Air Force officers at a gunnery meet observed about 12 disc-shaped objects that dove down and hovered over the base during the meet. [AP story, Mar. 9th; UFOE, III]


March 9, 1953; Ashiya AFB, Kyushu, Japan (BBU)
6:30 a.m. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

March 10-11, 1953; Hackettstown, New Jersey (BBU 2490)
4 [2?] a.m. (EST). Mrs. Nina Cook, an experienced private pilot and wife of a Pan Am flight engineer, saw a large light blinking at 10-15 times per minute, move up and down along a mountain range. Earlier sighting at 9 p.m.? (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

March 14, 1953; N of Hiroshima, Japan (BBU 2496)
11:45 p.m. USN pilot Lt. Wooton, copilot Lt. J. S. Rose, navigator Lt. D. W. Carey, Capt. G. E. Truelove, radarmen G. F. Delmel and R. D. Kelly, radiomen J. Schaefer and J. L. Chavers, other crewmen L. B. Brown and G. E. Noiseux of U.S. Navy P2V-5 patrol plane saw groups of 5-10 colored lights, totaling 90-100, slowly move aft of the left side of the airplane at a range of 3-7 miles as estimated by copilot. Unidentified target tracked at 7 miles range by airborne APS-20 radar from 45° to 250° relative bearing. (Jan Aldrich; NICAP)

March 20, 1953;  Pork Chop Hill [Old Baldy?], Korea (BBU)
11 p.m. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

March 21, 1953; Elmira, New York (BBU 2511)
3:05 p.m. (EST). 4 GOC observers at GOC observation post saw 6 discs in a group fly high and fast. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

March 21, 1953; Prescott, Arizona
Sighting from aircraft. Beers case (P)

March 23, 1953; Pasadena, Texas (BBU)
10:12 p.m. (CST). (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

March 25, 1953; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 2521)
3:05 [11:15 CST ?] p.m. USAF Capt. and Mrs. D. E. Cox saw several lights, some moving straight, others making 360° turns. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

March 25, 1953; Nouasseur AFB, Rabat, French Morocco (BBU)
9:23-10:15 p.m. (GMT). Majors Radin and Rend plus 1+ crew of C-47 at 5,000 ft saw white light above at 7,000 to 8,000 ft maneuvering in spiral pattern over airfield, descend and land on airbase S of runways at 9:28 p.m. visible until suddenly blinked out on the ground at about 10:15. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 83-87; FUFOR Index)

March 27, 1953; Mount Taylor, New Mexico (BBU 2524)
7:25 p.m. (MST). Pilot of USAF F-86 jet fighter at 600 knots (700 mph) saw and chased a bright orange circle flying at 800 knots (900 mph), and executing three fast rolls. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

March 29, 1953; Spooner, WI. (BBU 2526)
3:45 p.m. (CST). L. C. Gillette saw an aluminum, circular object fly high and fast, twice reversing its course. Note: Gillette saw a similar object in 1938. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

March 31, 1953; Honshu, Japan (BBU)
7:35 p.m. (McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

NARA-PBB1-97 - April Sightings

Intelligence - a New Role for the Ground Observer Corps. The latest addition to the air defense team - the 4602nd Air Intelligence Service Squadron - creates another important job for ground observers.  (Courtesy of CUFON)

April, 1953; Laredo, Texas
A jet pilot instructor watched distinct "solid brown" circling cigar-shaped object leaving a contrail as it passed over his T-33, turned sharply, circled the base and sped away at an estimated 1,200 mph. [Report to NICAP; UFOE, III]

April 8, 1953; Fukuoka, Japan (BBU 2535)
7:55 p.m. 1st Lt. D. J. Pichon, pilot of USAF F-94B jet interceptor, saw a bright blue light descend, accelerate, fly parallel to the F-94, increase its speed and blink out. (Berliner; FUFOR Index)

April 8, 1953; Bet. Goose Bay, Labrador, and Sondrestrom AFB, Greenland (BBU)
7 p.m. (AST). USAF MATS transport pilot Swenson and copilot saw a white light at 15,000 ft on a steady course in a shallow descending turn. (NARA-PBB85-860, Project 1947; FUFOR Index)

April 12, 1953; Sweetwater,  Nevada (BBU)
4:10 p.m. (MST). Ten round flat metallic colored objects changing formation traveled at an estimated high rate of speed on a heading of 110 at an estimated altitude of 7,500 ft. No trail, sound, or exhaust were noted. Objects passed under the right nacelle of the observers C-47 type aircraft, and were observed by the co-pilot. He took control of the C-47, and turned to the right in a tight 300 degree turn for a better view of the objects. Objects were then picked up unassisted by two more members of the crew. The objects were observed in a right turn of greater radius than that of the C-47, and at a lower altitude. The object were observed for approximately 120 degrees of their turn, and disappeared on a heading of 300 degrees. Observers were unable to estimate the speed of the objects because of the distance and the objects'' large radius of turn. (BBU, Sparks; McDonald list)

April 14, 19, 21, 23, 1953; Antung, Manchuria, China (BBU)
(McDonald list; FUFOR Index)

April 15, 1953; Tucson, Ariz. (BBU 2542)
5:45 p.m. (MST). S/Sgt. V. A. Locey saw 3 orange lights. (Berliner)

April 16, 1953; East Prairie, MO
3:10 CST. Several persons observed UFOs for 25 minutes at estimated 40,000'. Appeared to be in trail of a B-36. Objects were circular, about 230' feet in diameter, and silver in color. Speed estimated at 400-600 mph. (See Air Intelligence Information Report).

April 19, 1953; Calumet, Mich.-Lake Superior area. (BBU)
7:18 p.m. (CST). (McDonald list)

NARA-PBB1-98 - May Sightings

Handbook for Intelligence Officers. The manual's theme is the importance of having high grade air technical intelligence in order to avoid "technological surprise" from a foreign power. Although UFOs are not specifically mentioned, the illustration of "flying saucers" above an Air Force bomber appears on page 9-3 of the manual, and this chronology shows the timing/context of its publication. (Richard Hall)
CAA Technical Development Report 180. A Preliminary Study of Unidentified Targets Observed on Air Traffic Control. This flawed report states the July 1952 objects were weather targets. (Courtesy of CUFON)

 34th Air Defense Division Regulation No. 200-1, Reporting of Information on Unidentified Flying Objects. Including: 34ADD Form 127: Unidentified Flying Object Report (FLYOBRPT)


May 1, 1953; 10 miles S of Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, Canada (BBU 2555)
11:35 [11:20?] p.m. (AST). USAF 59th FIS pilot Capt. R. L. Emberry and radar operator 1st Lt. J. R. Morin of F-94 jet interceptor flying at 24,000 ft, and control tower operator, saw a white light or unidentified aircraft with afterburner but unlike any known aircraft, about 10,000 ft below the jet, evaded interception by F-94. Both object and F-94 climbed to 40,000 ft but object outpaced the jet and continued climb until out of sight. (Berliner; Joel Carpenter)

May 4, 1953; Goose Bay AFB? Harmon AFB? Labrador, Canada (BBU)
Canadian civilian woman saw a football-shaped light metal colored object reflected in a rotating beacon traveling S at high speed, low altitude, disappearing in stratus cloud over the base. Sound like tins striking together. (Joel Carpenter)

May 5, 1953; Yuma, Ariz.
Scientist observed silvery disc; concentric rings visible through Polaroid glasses. [UFOE, VI]

May 12 [13?], 1953; [39 miles NW of ?] Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, Canada (BBU)
[Unidentified radar tracking by pilot Lt. D. C. Rogers and radar operator Lt. J. A. Lane who attempted interception but unable to make visual contact.] (McDonald list; Joel Carpenter)

May 21, 1953; Prescott, Ariz.
A veteran private pilot watched as eight disc-like objects "swooped around in formation, peeled off, and shot directly up and down in a manner that could not be duplicated by a plane." The objects maneuvered overhead for about an hour. [UFOE, V]

May 23, 1953; Union of S. Africa
South African headquarters announced in November that on May 23, radar had tracked an unidentified object near the Cape at over 1000 mph. [Prescott Evening Courier, May 22; UFOE, VIII]

May 27, 1953; San Antonio, Texas (BBU 2577)
8:30 p.m. Many unidentified civilians, including Jacobson, saw 9 separate meandering lights. (Berliner)

July 9, 1953--Columbus, OH
Circular, silver UFO seen at North American Aviation plant. [VII]

NARA-PBB1-99 - June Sightings

 

June, 1953; Otis AFB, Cape Cod (12 miles E. of Buzzard's bay), New Jersey
This is an account of the disappearance of an F-94C jet fighter-interceptor which has puzzled investigators for many years. The airman who reported the incident, which started out as a UFO intercept mission, had personal knowledge of the circumstances because he was directly involved in the resultant investigation. The case involved E-M effects, the pilot bailing out, and the F-94 and radar officer never found.

June 10-11, 1953; Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, Canada (BBU)
11:34 p.m.-2 a.m. (AST). GCA radar tracking of 25 separate unidentified objects near base traveling about 30-100 knots (35-115 mph) in no specific pattern. [Anomalous propagation?] (McDonald list)

June 16, 1953; San Antonio, Texas (BBU)
(McDonald list)

June 18, 26, 1953; Iwo Jima (BBU)
(McDonald list)

June 21, 1953; Naha, Okinawa (BBU)
7 p.m. 9 Japanese and Okinawan weather observers saw an unidentified light move slowly. No further data in files. (Berliner)

June 22, 1953; Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, Canada (BBU 2601)
2:10 a.m. Pilot and radar operator of USAF F-94 jet interceptor saw a red light, flying at 1,000 knots (1,100 mph) elude the chasing F-94. (Berliner)

June 24, 1953; Hampton Bays, Long Island, New York (BBU)
12:18-12:21 a.m. Civilian woman Madelaine Ward saw "a large aircraft" of exotic design with a lighted red band around the middle, 100 ft diameter, flying very slowly and low, coming straight toward her house with an oscillating motion, then stop near her, 80 ft above ground, fly backward over the water, hover, making the noise of a swarm of bees. Object's top section supported a series of red lights and a cabin with 4 portholes through which a control panel was visible, no occupant seen. The cabin rose above the object, rotated, then glided back. Object tilted toward the W, rose toward the SE, disappearing within 3 secs at an 80° angle of climb. 2 days later a yellowish moss was found at the site. (Vallée Magonia 112; McDonald files; Jan Aldrich; FUFOR Index)

June 24, 1953; Simiutak, Greenland (BBU 2606)
11:30 a.m. USAF weather observer Airman/2nd Richard A. Hill saw through a theodolite a rotating red delta­shaped or circular object 3x the size of the weather balloon being tracked at 18,000 ft [object size 30 ft ??] collide with and disintegrate the balloon as the object traveled SE to NW. After hitting the balloon it hovered and rotated for 15 secs, then climbed for 5 mins into the wind at 300°. (Berliner; Joel Carpenter)

June 24, 1953; Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands (BBU 2605)
11:30 p.m. Crew of USAF KB-29 aerial tanker plane. Radar tracked an unidentified target that twice approached to within 0.5 mile of KB-29, and once to within 6 miles. (Berliner)

June 30, 1953; Ramore, Ontario, Canada; Pinetreeline Radar Site.
2345 hours. An unidentified flying object was observed for, a period of twenty minutes in the northern sky moving to the southeast by at least 10 personnel of the 912th AC&W Squadron. The first person to observe this object was an airman who came out of the maintenance room to inspect the power unit which caused a minor breakdown of the search radar set. He called two other airmen to witness the object. One of the two thought the object was the moon.  The airman who originally observed the object got hysterical and called the Charge of Quarters at the Domestic Area three miles to the southwest.  At least seven witnesses at the Domestic Area saw the object and two of them reported that the moon was visible at the time and that the object was distinct and separate from the moon. The object was described as orange-colored and oval shaped. It was described as moving from the north to southeast and then fading back to the north. No great speed was attributed to the object by any of the witnesses who said they saw movement.  It was reported that the object had no visible means of propulsion and that there was no similarity to any known flying object.

NARA-PBB1-100 - July 1-15 Sightings
NARA-PBB1-101 - July 16-31 Sightings

Summer 1953; Yaak, Montana
Radar-visual sighting of six UFOs in formation. [UFOE, VIII]

Summer 1953; Muskogee, Oklahoma
2:00 p.m. The photo was allegedly taken in the Summer of 1953 by Mr. XXXXX of Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to Air Force report, at 1400 hours he took a photo of an unidentified flying object which appeared in the sky on the eastern outskirts of Muskogee, Oklahoma. (NARA-PBB90-1122.)
 
July 3, 1953; Tipp City, Ohio (BBU)
(McDonald list)

July 9, 1953; Columbus, Ohio
Circular, silver UFO seen at North American Aviation plant. [UFOE, VII]

July 19, 1953; Oak Ridge, Tenn.
Black objects maneuvered over area near F-86.

July 20, 1953; Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska (BBU)
(McDonald list)

July 24, 1953; Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Large silver object circled over town. [UFOE, VII]


July 25, 1953 - Restricted AF Document - How to Make FLYOBRPTS (68 pages)
This guide, written in 1953, was intended for US Air Force intelligence officers and others who might have to make UFO reports (“Flying Object Report = FLYOBRPT”.) It cites as its authority Air Force Letter 200-5 (AFL 200-5) which preceded Air Force Regulation 200-2. This guide contains all the different report forms and also some statistics that may have not seen the light of day (for many years) until now (Jim Klotz, CUFON; Michael Swords, Jan Aldrich)

July 31, 1953; Port Clinton, Ohio
Unidentified white light viewed through field glasses. [UFOE, VII]


NARA-PBB1-102 - August Sightings

Aug. 1, 1953; Toledo, Ohio
UFO, changing color, flickered and jumped in sky. [UFOE, VII]

Aug. 2, 1953; Saraland, Alabama (BBU)
Between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Woman in her backyard looking to the NE saw a highly polished spinning top or cone-shaped object reflecting the sun at low altitude traveling from NW to SE. (Hynek­CUFOS-Willy Smith files

Aug. 3, 1953; Amarillo, Texas (BBU 2663)
12:04 p.m. Airport control tower chief C. S. Brown saw a round and reflective or translucent object fly straight, stop for 7 secs, speed along, stop again, joined by a similar object, then both fly off in different directions. (Berliner)

Aug. 5-6, 1953; Near Rapid City, South Dakota (BBU)
8:05 p.m. – 12:23? a.m. (MST). GOC observer in Black Hawk, S.D., (about 8 miles NW of Rapid City), reported to Ellsworth AFB bright [red?] object first stationary to the NE then heading S [SE?] 30° to the right, toward Rapid City. Radar controller found 2 targets heading S, had difficulty tracking due to ground clutter, 3 airmen sent outside to look saw a high speed light heading S. A few minutes later GOC observer reported the object had returned. An F-84 was vectored and made visual contact then directed to stationary radar target about 15 miles NE of Black Hawk, target started moving 320° magnetic out to 70 miles range and F-84 intercept was called off. F­ 84 pilot was about to land in Rapid City when he noticed silvery object like the brightest star he'd ever seen, to the NW, which he pursued on 350° magnetic keeping it at 11 o'clock high, 30°-45° elevation, it disappeared after 30 secs, reappeared for 30 secs then faded from sight. A 2nd F-84 was scrambled from Ellsworth AFB, and on a N 360° magnetic heading at 15,000 ft he saw a target 30°­ 40° to his right and at level elevation which "jumped" in elevation to 15°-30°, changed color from white to green, was much brighter than a star and was moving in relation to the stars (3 specific stars he picked out for reference). Pilot turned on radar gun sight which showed possible target beyond maximum range of 4,000 yards (2.3 miles) and GCI ground radar tracked target 5-10 miles ahead of the F-84 out to 80 miles for 5 mins [960 mph?] when intercept was broken off and target went off scope [about 11:42 p.m.?]. About 20 miles from base F-84 pilot, now at 12,000-14,000 ft, saw a red and white pair of lights 10° below the horizon at 180° magnetic and height-finder ground radar showed a target at 8,000 ft. Lights visible for 30 sec  periods. Radar scope photos and gun camera photos reportedly malfunctioned. (NICAP; Ruppelt pp. 232-5; CR pp. 132-6)

Aug. 9, 1953; Moscow, Idaho
Three F-86 fighters pursued a large glowing disc reported by Ground Observer Corps. [UFOE, VII]
Aug.12, 1953; Rapid City, S. D.
Gun camera shots, simultaneous sighting of UFO by ground and airborne radar, visual. [UFOE, I]
 
Aug.14, 1953; Columbus, Ohio
Lighted object came straight down out of sky, stopped, then sped out of view. [UFOE, VII]

Aug.15, 1953; Crestline, OH
Circling light changed color, white, red, green. [UFOE, VII]

Aug. 20, 1953; Near Castle AFB, Calif. (BBU 2686)
9:05 p.m. Crew of TB-29 bomber/trainer plane saw a grayish oval object make 4 passes at the airplane (3 times at 10-20 miles distance), then dive vertically as if two objects [?].(Berliner)

Aug. 21, 1953; Maumee, Ohio
Black oval with green and red lights around perimeter. [UFOE, VII]

Aug. 23, 1953; Columbus, Ohio
Red and white object moving very slowly upward, observed by Ground Observer Corps. (UFOE)

Aug. 23, 1953; Port Moresby, New Guinea (BBU)
Movie film taken by Drury. (McDonald list) Motion picture film purporting to show saucer-like object climbing steeply, taken by aviation official. [Wrong date Aug. 31 given in UFOE, VIII]

August 26, 1953 - Air Force Regulation 200-2

Directive issued by Secretary of AF Harold E. Talbott: procedures for reporting UFOs, restrictions on public discussion by Air Force personnel. (UFOE, IX)


Aug. 27, 1953; Greenville, Mississippi (BBU 2692)
9:45 p.m. USAF pilot, M/Sgt., others, all on the ground, saw a meandering light. No further details in file. (Berliner)

 
Sept. 1953; London, UK
Radar case (G)

Sept. 2, 1953; Sidi Slimane AFB, French Morocco (BBU)
9:14 p.m. Lt. Col. William Moore and 1st Lt. J. H. McInnis. (Berliner). An unidentified flying object (light) was sighted by the crew of a USAF C-47 on a routine training flight at 2114 hours. The light was first observed at an estimated altitude of 4,000 feet above the C-47. The object's rate of closure was very fast and followed a near collision course in relation to the C-47. The approaching object, when level with the C-47, executed a 180 degree descending turn at high speed. The object then made a second 180 degree turn to an altitude of approximately 700 feet. The object then made a 90 degree turn toward the main highway that parallels the Sidi Slimane AFB at which point it appeared stationary. The light then disappeared. The observers flew the C-47 in a 360 degree circle in order to continue the observation of the object. The light was seen for approximately three minutes. There were no reported aircraft in the area.

Sept. 7,1953; Cleveland, Ohio
Technical writer watched rotating triangle pass overhead (cf., May 22, 1960, Majorca sighting). [UFOE, VII]

Sept. 7, 1953; Vandalia, Ohio
Two Navy fighter pilots saw a brilliant white object speed below their planes, then climb rapidly out of sight. [UFOE, IV]

 Sept. 11-13, 1953; Chiloquin, Ore
Police Chief, others, watched top-like UFOs three consecutive nights. [UFOE, VII]

Sept. 24, 1953; Bexley (Columbus), Ohio
Ground Observer Corps report: silvery disk followed plane. [UFOE, VII]

Sept. 28, 1953; Palmdale, Calif. (BBU)
(McDonald list)

Sept. 29, 1953; Easton, PA
E-M case. Television picture "began going up and down real fast", as UFO passed overhead.


Oct. 13, 1953; Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska (BBU)
(McDonald list)

Oct.15, 1953; Minneapolis, Minn. (BBU)
10:10 a.m. During tracking of Project GRAB BAG balloon launch, a 40 ft object leaving brief vapor trail was seen by 3 General Mills Aeronautical Lab research engineers traveling S in horizontal flight 10° in 9 secs at about 40,000 ft altitude and 25° elevation, 1,100 mph, went into vertical dive for about 10-15 secs, object glowed or flashed in the sun 2-3 times for 1 sec each, seen as a gray mass in the theodolite leveling off, vapor trail stopped. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 113-4; Hynek UFO Exp ch. 6, case DD-9)

Oct. 16, 1953; Presque Isle, Maine (BBU)
9:30 PM to 11:45 PM. Approximately twenty-five unidentified objects were observed on GCA radar. The objects were observed at irregular intervals in groups from three (3) to eight (8) at speeds from 80 to 100 mph. One F-89 aircraft was scrambled at 10:08 pm, to attempt interception. (McDonald list)

Oct.18, 1953; English Channel
Airline pilots saw a UFO "like two shallow saucers with their rims together." [UFOE, V]

Oct. 28, 1953; Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska (BBU)
(McDonald List)

October 29, 1953

Lt. Col. F. K. Everest in F-100 Super-Sabre set speed record, 755.149 mph.

 

Oct. 30, 1953; Mt. Vernon, Ohio
Round, silver object circled at low altitude. [UFOE, VII]

NARA-PBB1-105 - November Sightings

Nov. 3, 1953; London, England
A huge apparently metallic UFO, "completely circular" and white, was tracked on radar and observed visually through a telescope by the 256th Heavy Anti- Aircraft Regiment. [UFOE, VIII

November12, 1953 - Project MAGNET
                   Canadian Government announcement of flying saucer observatory near Ottawa. 
 
Nov. 14, 1953; Nr. Toledo, Ohio
UFO flashing various colors observed climbing. [UFOE, VII]  

Nov.  23, 1953; Kinross AFB, Michigan
Air Force F-89 vanished while pursuing UFO over Lake Superior. [UFOE, VIII, IX]


December 1, 1953
Air Force announced in Washington it had set up flying saucer" cameras around the country equipped with diffraction gratings to analyze nature of UFO light sources.
 
Dec. 3, 1953; North Truro, Mass. (BBU)
(McDonald list)

Dec. 3, 1953; Holloman AFB, New Mexico (BBU)
(McDonald list)

Dec. 3, 1953; Newark, New Jersey (BBU)
12:15-12:45 a.m. Amateur astronomer watching for meteors saw a tiny reddish-brown oval luminous object flying steady from N to S at high altitude without sound or trail, also observed through binoculars. Half the brightness of Jupiter [mag. –1 ?]. (Hynek-CUFOS re­eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 3, 1953; Ellington AFB, Houston, Texas (BBU)
5:12 p.m. (CST). Civilian ground observers saw a silver grey bright light with "skipping" motion, like a stone skipping on the water, with red trail, same or similar objects seen 3x. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 5, 1953; Houston, Texas (BBU)
8:15 p.m. Children saw yellow-orange ellipse with 40x telescope. (Hynek-CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 13, 1953; Central Ohio
Rocket-like UFO with white lights at both ends observed by Ground Observer Corps. [UFOE, VII]

 

Dec. 15, 1953 - AFR 205-1, Part 1 (Courtesy, CUFON)
Part 2 (CUFON)


Dec. 16, 1953; Mediterranean (BBU)
(McDonald list)

Dec. 16, 1953; Ground site 3 miles WNW of Agoura, & a/c SW of Long Beach, Calif. (BBU)
4:58­ 5:05 p.m. (PST). Lockheed Skunk Works chief Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson and wife near Agoura and top Lockheed crew aboard WV-2 aircraft near Long Beach, independently of each other, saw black flying-wing or ellipse or crescent-shaped object about 170-230 ft wide at about 15,000 ±2,000 ft altitude to the W hovering about 30-60 miles away (255° ±1° true to Johnson; 285°-290° true to WV-2 crew). At 5:04 p.m. after 4 mins (to the Johnson's) 6 mins (to WV-2 crew) object suddenly took off in a shallow climb accelerating (at about 130 g's) to approximately earth escape velocity (25,000 mph) to the W over the Pacific, disappearing in 10-13 secs (to WV-2 crew) in 90 secs (to Johnson using 8x binoculars) after reaching 90+ miles altitude. (Sparks)

Dec. 16, 1953; Toledo, Ohio
Group of lights changing from red to white, each appearing to revolve. [UFOE, VII]


Dec. 17, 1953; Hassleholm, Sweden (BBU 2838)
(NARA) Defense high command ordered a full scale investigation of sightings of a wingless circular object which sped over southern Sweden. [UFOE, X]

Dec. 23, 1953; Bismarck, North Dakota [?] (BBU)
3:20 a.m. Ground observer saw 4 yellowish-white oval objects in trail formation with pulsating light the main part of the object and a short ragged red streamer exhaust about 1/4 the size of the object, heading SSW. (Hynek -CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 24, 1953; El Cajon, Calif. (BBU 2840)
8:04 a.m. U.S. Navy Lts. J. B. Howard and L. D. Linhard, flying F9F-2 jet fighters, saw 10 silver oval objects flying at 400+ knots (450+ mph), straight and level. (Berliner)

Dec. 24, 1953; Scott AFB, Illinois (BBU)
10:00-10:14 a.m. (CST). Ground observers using binoculars saw 2 oval extremely brilliant silver objects with mirror-like reflections hovering stationary until F-51's were vectored in and the objects disappeared. (Hynek­CUFOS re-eval; Jan Aldrich)

Dec. 28, 1953; Marysville, Calif. (BBU 2844)
11:55 a.m. Yuba County Airport Manager Dick Brandt saw a saucer, with a brilliant blue light, reflecting on a nearby building, hovering briefly at one point. (Berliner)
 
 

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