Project 10073 Record Card — Lancaster, California, August 1, 1952

This document compiles reports and correspondence regarding a sighting of unidentified aerial phenomena on August 1, 1952, in the vicinity of Lancaster and Leona Valley, California. The primary incident involved two sheriff's deputies, W.D. Mallette and T.M. Morrissey, who observed two bright, elliptical objects while on patrol. The objects were initially seen in the southern sky at the same altitude, appearing stationary before moving in formation. One object traveled in an easterly direction at a moderate speed, parallel to the horizon, before turning south and disappearing. The second object remained stationary for approximately ten minutes before descending toward the horizon with a pendulum-like motion and disappearing from view. The witnesses described the objects as brilliant red or white-yellow lights, roughly the size of a baseball, with no discernible sound. A State Fish and Game Warden also reported seeing the objects, and his description corroborated the deputies' account. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base investigated the incident. Captain Paul E. Shoemacher interviewed the deputies, noting that the sky was clear and the moon was bright at the time of the sighting. The investigation concluded that there was no correlation between the sighting and any operations at Edwards Air Force Base, noting only one F-94C flight in the area that landed prior to the reported time. The 27th Air Defense Command Division reported no radar contact. The document also includes a separate, unrelated intelligence report regarding rumors of a German-designed 'flying saucer' found in Spitzbergen, which is dismissed by the German designer Walther Riedel as 'a nice collection of nonsense.' The primary sighting report remains classified as 'Unknown' by the Air Force, with the investigating officer noting that Deputy Mallette's experience as a former Navy pilot lent credibility to the observation.