Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Incident Report — Fortville, Indiana, 23 February 1953
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AI-Generated Summary
A civilian sighting of a circular, white object with a smoke ring in Fortville, Indiana, was investigated by Project Blue Book. The object was identified as a weather balloon released from Indianapolis.
On 23 February 1953, at 2116Z, a civilian woman named Mrs. Cleon, residing at 1247 Concord in Fortville, Indiana, reported sighting an unidentified flying object. The witness described the object as circular in shape, white in color, and surrounded by a smoke ring. She observed the object traveling at a high altitude in a northeasterly direction for approximately five minutes. The report was initially filed with the 732nd AC&W Squadron. Following an investigation by Project Blue Book, it was determined that the object was a 30-inch rubber 'piball' weather balloon. The balloon had been scheduled for release at 2100Z by the Indianapolis U.S. Department of Agriculture Weather Station. Analysis of wind data at the time of the sighting indicated that the balloon would have been carried in a northeasterly direction, placing it over the Fortville area approximately 15 minutes after its release. The official conclusion of the investigation was that the object was a balloon.
Was balloon.
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Official Assessment
Was balloon.
Project Blue Book determined the object was a piball weather balloon released by the Indianapolis U.S. Department of Agriculture Weather Station at 2100Z. Wind data for the time of day confirms the balloon would have been over Fortville at the time of the sighting.
Witnesses
- Mrs. CleonCivilian