Unidentified Aircraft Sighting Report — Wilmette, Illinois, 16 May 1950

This document is a formal report from the Headquarters Fifth Army, dated 26 June 1950, addressed to the Commanding General at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It details a sighting of an unidentified aircraft that occurred on 16 May 1950 at 2045 hours. The primary witnesses were a doctor and his wife, who were seated in their parked car at Wilmette Beach in Washington Park, Wilmette, Illinois. According to the report, the wife first noticed a strange object in the sky over Lake Michigan. The doctor initially perceived the object as a 'shooting star,' but upon further observation, concluded it was an aircraft. The object was described as elliptical in shape, with an estimated diameter of 50 to 100 feet. It was observed traveling at a 'tremendous rate of speed' on a course approximately 6 to 8 miles from the shore. The witnesses estimated the object was in sight for 3 to 4 seconds, during which time it traveled 50 or 60 miles. The object was noted to have a pink fluorescent hue. When last seen, the object changed course and headed out over the lake. The report also notes that the sighting was witnessed by the occupants of another car, which bore a 1950 Illinois license plate. The document references previous correspondence regarding 'Unconventional Aircraft' and 'Flying Saucers' and requests information on the continued reporting of such incidents. A handwritten annotation on the first page suggests the object was identified as an 'Astro (Meteor).'