PROJECT 10073 RECORD — Nicosia Airfield, Cyprus, 20 August 1950

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on 20 August 1950 at Nicosia Airfield, Cyprus. At approximately 1130Z, a witness observed a small, round or elliptical, bright object moving from a point directly overhead toward the west. The object maintained a consistent brilliance even when reflected against the sun and traveled in a somewhat erratic westerly path at a high rate of speed. The observation lasted for 15 to 20 seconds before the object disappeared from sight at approximately 30 degrees above the horizon. A subsequent check with the control tower and ground station confirmed that a Turkish State Airlines C-47 was in the vicinity at 1130 hours at an altitude of 9,500 feet. The report notes that the unidentified object was distinct from the C-47, as the aircraft's relative height and sound were different from the observed phenomenon. A second observation occurred at approximately 1330 local time on the same day, when a witness walking from the MATS Detachment Office to a parked C-47 aircraft looked aloft after hearing an aircraft. While searching for the aircraft, the witness observed a small, round, bright object traveling at a high speed. This object was also observed to be quite high and moving toward the west, disappearing at approximately 30 to 35 degrees above the horizon. The weather conditions during this second observation were described as clear with brilliant sunshine and visibility of at least fifty miles. No sound was reported to emanate from the object. The report concludes that the object remains unidentified.