Air Intelligence Information Report — Unidentified Flying Objects (Short Title: FLYOBRPT) — 28 July 1952

This Air Intelligence Information Report, dated August 4, 1952, documents an Unidentified Flying Object sighting that occurred on July 28, 1952, at 0501 Pacific Daylight Time in Novato, California. The report was prepared by Captain Orville E. Bixel of the 28th Air Division at Hamilton Air Force Base. The sighting was reported by two civilian men, identified as Lt. Grover C. Owens (USAF retired) and Mr. Phillip Tuckett, who were stationed at a Ground Observer Corps (G.O.C.) post in Novato. The witnesses observed a single object for approximately one minute. They described the object as star-shaped but resembling a bulb, reddish-yellow in color, and traveling at an estimated speed of 150 miles per hour at an altitude between 10,000 and 15,000 feet. The object maintained a straight flight path, and no sound was reported. One of the observers suggested the object might have been an aircraft with its landing lights on. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with 10 miles of visibility. The 28th Air Division Control Center provided information indicating that a Navy fighter aircraft was in the immediate area of the sighting at an altitude of 20,000 feet. No physical evidence was recovered, and no identification action was taken. In his comments, the preparing officer, Captain Bixel, concluded that because one of the observers believed the object was an aircraft and because a Navy fighter was confirmed to be in the area at the time, the sighting was likely an aircraft.