Report of Unconventional Aircraft - Mitchel Air Force Base, 21 January 1952

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report concerning an unidentified aerial object sighted on 21 January 1952 in the vicinity of Mitchel Air Force Base, New York. The primary witness was Lt. James R. Zeitvogel, a U.S. Navy pilot flying a TBM aircraft at 6,000 feet. At approximately 0950 EST, Lt. Zeitvogel observed an unconventional object located between his aircraft and Mitchel Field. He described the object as circular in the horizontal plane, pancake-shaped, and similar to an open parachute in the vertical plane, with an estimated diameter of 20 to 30 feet. The object was light in color, resembling a silk or nylon parachute canopy, with a potentially darker underside. It exhibited no visible wings, tail, or propulsion system, and produced no sound. During the observation, which lasted approximately two and a half minutes, the object demonstrated significant maneuverability, including tight turns and a rapid climb. Lt. Zeitvogel attempted to intercept the object, noting that it appeared to speed up from an estimated 300 knots to at least 500 knots as he approached. He observed the object making a 260-degree turn to the left, followed by a 360-degree turn back to a 210-degree heading before it disappeared. The report includes detailed weather observations from Mitchel AFB at the time of the incident, noting clear skies and visibility of 10 to 15 miles. A weather balloon was released from the Santini Area of Mitchel AFB at 0950, which was a white, three-foot diameter balloon with an attached aluminum radar target. The official summary of the report suggests that while the object was in a limited measure comparable to a balloon, the motion between the two airborne objects was described as 'extremely deceptive.' The report concludes that in the absence of more precise information, the sighting remains a mystery. The document includes various administrative forms, including a Joint Messageform, a statement from Lt. Zeitvogel, and a statement from Major William B. Hicks regarding the weather balloon release. A map is also included as an exhibit, illustrating the flight paths of both the pilot's aircraft and the unidentified object, with positions plotted at 30-second intervals. The report was prepared by Major Francis E. Dubisher and was intended for the Director of Intelligence at Hq USAF.