FLYOBRPT IR-101-53 — Honolulu, Hawaii, 16 January 1953

This document is a formal Flying Object Report (FLYOBRPT) filed by Major John E. Rhode of the 1500th Air Base Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The report details a sighting that occurred on 16 January 1953 at 0630 local time. The witness, a Yeoman Third Class assigned to MATS at Pearl Harbor, was driving on Limitz Highway in Honolulu when he observed a bright, highly illuminated, circular object in the sky. According to the witness, who was described as having significant experience observing both jet and conventional aircraft, the object moved in a straight line on a north-south trajectory before executing a 45-degree turn and disappearing in a westerly direction. The witness reported that the object made no sound and exhibited no visible trails, smoke, or propulsion systems. The weather at the time was clear with light winds. Following the report, an investigation was conducted by the 1500th Air Base Wing. A check with the U.S. Weather Bureau confirmed that no weather balloons were in the area at the time of the sighting. Base Operations at Hickam AFB noted that a C-47 aircraft had departed at 0630 and a C-54 had landed at 0640, but no other military or civilian agencies could provide information to substantiate the sighting. The official conclusion reached by the intelligence division was that the object was 'probably aircraft,' noting that there was no data presented that conflicted with an aircraft analysis. The document was approved by Lt. Colonel Ingham G. Mack of the Intelligence Division.