UAP Sighting Report — Rock Island, Illinois, 19 July 1952

This document is a teletype report dated August 4, 1952, concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on July 19, 1952, near Rock Island, Illinois. The report originates from the Quad City Airport and is addressed to various military commands, including the Air Defense Command at Ent Air Force Base, the Secretary of Defense in Washington D.C., and the Commanding Officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The witness, a civilian and member of a local astronomy club, was positioned on the Mississippi River at dusk when they observed a 'brilliant object.' According to the report, the object was initially sighted 10 degrees above the horizon directly to the south. It then performed a rapid ascent, moving to 20 degrees above the horizon in approximately two seconds. The report notes that weather conditions were clear with visibility exceeding 15 miles. Approximately three minutes after the initial sighting, a twin-engined aircraft was observed approaching from the east with one landing light illuminated. The document includes a standardized evaluation section, where the official conclusion is marked as 'Insufficient Data for Evaluation.' The report serves as a formal record of the incident for military intelligence purposes, documenting the specific timing, location, and nature of the observation as reported by the civilian witness.