Unidentified Flying Object Sighting Report — Sampson AFB, New York, 26 January 1953

On 26 January 1953, at approximately 1820 hours EST, an airman stationed at Sampson Air Force Base, New York, observed a large, luminous, rectangular object in the sky. The witness, an airman second class (A/2C) with a background in education, reported that the object traveled from east to west through an arc of 70 to 80 degrees. The object was estimated to be 180 feet long and 12 feet wide, flying at an altitude between 7,000 and 10,000 feet. The witness described the object as having a hazy appearance at the front and rear, while the main body remained clearly outlined. Furthermore, the object emitted a high-pitched humming sound, similar to an electric motor. The observation lasted approximately one minute, during which the object appeared to gain altitude rapidly before slowly fading away. The humming sound persisted for a few seconds after the object was no longer visible. A second witness, an airman third class (A/3C), was called to the scene by the primary observer but did not see the object, although he did hear the high-pitched hum. Subsequent investigation by the 3650th Military Training Wing and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) included a review of weather conditions and local air traffic. The investigation determined that the object's rapid climb rate (39 degrees per minute) ruled out the possibility of it being a star. While no balloon launches were reported at the base, authorities identified that a westbound Boston Airlines flight was in the general vicinity at 1815 EST. The official conclusion reached by the military authorities was that the object was 'PROBABLY AIRCRAFT.' The report was formally documented on AF Form 112 and forwarded to ATIC at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, under the project designation of Project Blue Book.