Radar Sighting of Unknown Aerial Object — Bergstrom AFB, 23 January 1953

On 23 January 1953, T/Sgt Gerald V. Kelley, an experienced Aircraft Landing Control Technician at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, observed an unidentified radar return while operating an AN/NPM-1 GCA radar set. The observation lasted approximately 19 minutes, between 1540 and 1559 CST. The target appeared as a bright, elliptical blip, approximately twice the size of a normal aircraft target, with fuzzy, diffused edges. The object exhibited unusual behavior, remaining stationary for several minutes before moving rapidly at speeds estimated in excess of 350 mph, then halting again. T/Sgt Kelley attempted to verify the target visually by contacting the control tower, but no object was seen. The incident was formally reported to the 12th Strategic Fighter Wing and subsequently forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) for evaluation. Technical representatives, including Charles G. Reagor of Gilfillan Bros. Inc., reviewed the data and concluded that the radar return was not caused by a malfunction of the equipment. Instead, the official conclusion reached by ATIC and the Radiation Section of the Electronics Branch was that the target was a weather effect, likely caused by ice, clouds, or rain clouds, resulting in anomalous propagation. The report includes detailed radar data, including range settings, bearings, and weather conditions at the time of the sighting. The documentation emphasizes that no aircraft were in the vicinity of the target, and the observer was considered fully qualified and reliable.