Incident Report: Unidentified Aerial Object Sighting - Tunis, Libya, 11 February 1953

On 11 February 1953, at 2045Z, the crew of a C-119 aircraft flying from Tunis to Tripoli, Libya, observed an unidentified aerial object. The object was described as a very bright light surrounded by a halo of diffused light. The observation lasted between 5 and 55 minutes, during which the object appeared to remain stationary, though some crew members reported that it seemed to rise, descend, approach, and retreat. The aircraft was flying at an altitude of 7,500 feet with an indicated airspeed of 170 knots. There were six observers on board; four of them explicitly stated that the object was not a star, while the other two declined to make a definitive statement. The crew members possessed significant flight experience, ranging from 1 to 15 years. The report notes that there was no physical evidence, no radar contact, and no aerodynamic features, trails, or exhaust observed. Weather conditions at the time were reported as good, with only light scud clouds in the vicinity. Project Blue Book submitted the report to its contract astronomer for evaluation. It was determined that the planet Venus was the most likely explanation for the sighting, as it would have been in the approximate position of the object at that time and would appear very bright under the existing weather conditions. The document includes a formal conclusion of 'Possibly Astro (VENUS)' and was later processed for declassification under DOD Directive 5200.10.