Air Intelligence Information Report: Flying Object Sighting, Aguadulce, Panama

This Air Intelligence Information Report, dated January 23, 1953, documents an investigation into a reported sighting of a flying object in Aguadulce, Panama, on January 19, 1953. The initial report originated from the Spanish-language newspaper 'LA HORA', which published a story titled 'HAVE YOU SEEN THE FLYING SAUCER...?' on January 27, 1953. The newspaper claimed that a reporter traveling from Chitre to the capital observed an object of intense brilliance moving at an incredible speed. The report also mentions that employees of the nearby Santa Rose Sugar Mill and residents of the village of Pocri reported similar sightings. Upon investigation by the Air Intelligence officer, the incident was determined to be a hoax. The report highlights that the newspaper's director, Julio E. Briceño, was interviewed, and the preparing officer expressed skepticism regarding the newspaper's motives, noting their tendency to print sensational stories to increase sales. A key piece of evidence, a photograph provided by the newspaper, was examined and found to be fraudulent. The investigator concluded that the individual responsible for the photograph lacked basic photographic knowledge, attempting to depict an 'intense brilliance' by scraping a white spot onto a negative. The document also notes that local editors felt the Public Information Officer at the Caribbean Command should have released information on a previous, similar incident (IR-70-52) to the local press, suggesting that the current report was driven by resentment over being 'scooped' by a syndicated column by Drew Pearson. The report is classified as unclassified and includes the newspaper clipping and the fraudulent photograph as enclosures.