Report of Unusual Atmospheric Phenomenon — Peru, 19 July 1951

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report dated 24 August 1951, concerning an alleged sighting of an unusual atmospheric phenomenon in Peru. On 19 July 1951, at 1650 local time, a luminous disc described as having an intense orange color was observed over Hacienda Iberia in the Madre de Dios department. The object reportedly traveled from south to north, leaving a thick vaporous trail, and was visible for one to two minutes at an estimated altitude of 2500 to 3000 feet. The report notes that during the passage of the object, the Peruvian Corporation of the Amazon radio station was unable to transmit or receive signals. The sighting was later reported in the Lima newspaper El Comercio on 15 August 1951, which included a photograph and claims that 300 people had witnessed the event in Puerto Maldonado. However, the investigating officer, Colonel McHenry Hamilton, Jr., included comments from the Peruvian Minister of Education and the Peruvian Air Force (A-2). The Minister explained that the photograph was taken by a teacher in Puerto Maldonado who claimed to have captured the object while on a picnic. The Peruvian Air Force concluded that the entire incident was a hoax, suggesting the falsification was motivated by commercial reasons, specifically noting that El Comercio had purchased the picture and story, and that members of the public had been sold copies of the photograph. The document includes the original record card for Project 10073 and a copy of the newspaper article.