Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Report — Memphis, Tennessee, 14 April 1952

On 14 April 1952, at approximately 1834 CST, two Naval aviators stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee, reported an encounter with an unidentified flying object. The report, filed by Major Don F. Hammerlund of the Intelligence Division at Hq MATS, details that the pilots were flying at an altitude of 2000 feet on a heading of 18 degrees when they observed the object. The object was described as an inverted bowl, approximately three feet long and one foot high, featuring vertical slots running from top to bottom. It exhibited a bright appearance and left a red, glowing exhaust trail. The object maintained a rapid pace and performed straight and level maneuvers, passing within approximately 100 yards of the pilots' aircraft. The encounter lasted between 45 and 60 seconds. The pilots reported that the object made no audible sound. Weather conditions at the time of the sighting were reported by the U.S. Weather Bureau in Memphis as 4,200 feet overcast with a visibility of 15 miles. The report notes that no sketch or photograph of the object was available. The document was approved by Colonel William L. Travis of the Intelligence Division. The incident was recorded under Project 10073 and assigned the reference number IR-170-52. The document contains no final conclusion regarding the nature of the object, leaving the evaluation status as open or not stated.