Air Intelligence Information Report: Unidentified Aerial Object (Project 10073)

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-617-52) concerning an Unidentified Aerial Object sighting reported near Chickasaw, Alabama, on September 23, 1952. At approximately 2200 hours, a civilian observer reported seeing a group of five bluish-grey lights moving slowly across the sky. The observer, whose reliability was evaluated as excellent by the investigating officers, described the objects as moving in a straight line from the South to the Northeast at an estimated altitude of 2,000 feet. The observer noted a 'soft whoosh' sound as the objects passed overhead, which was distinct from the sound of jet aircraft or the small airplane that flew over the area shortly thereafter. The objects were estimated to be moving slower than a small airplane, at approximately 75 mph. The investigation, conducted by personnel from the 1703rd Air Transport Group and Brookley Air Force Base, checked local airport records and confirmed that no aircraft in the vicinity matched the description of the lights. A C-54 and a C-74 had departed from Brookley Air Force Base, but their flight paths and characteristics did not align with the reported sighting. Weather data for the time of the incident was obtained from Weather Detachment 6-3, indicating clear skies and specific wind conditions at various altitudes. The investigators concluded that the wind conditions, being opposite to the direction of the objects' flight, eliminated the possibility that the objects were weather balloons. Due to the lack of further sightings and the fact that the report was not received until twelve hours after the observation, no interception was attempted. The report includes the observer's statement, a weather report, and a sectional aeronautical chart as enclosures. The document is marked as 'RESTRICTED' and was processed through the Air Technical Intelligence Center.