Air Intelligence Information Report: FLYOBRPT (Project Blue Book) - Elmira, New York

On March 21, 1953, at approximately 1505 EST, two members of the Ground Observer Corps (GOC), Mr. Holup and Mr. Jack O'Niel, stationed at GOC Post # PN 00 Black in Elmira, New York, observed six disc-shaped objects. The witnesses reported that the objects were at a very high altitude and were moving rapidly toward the north. The observers utilized binoculars to view the objects, though the duration of the sighting was limited to only several seconds. The weather conditions at the time were reported as clear, with winds from the south at 10 knots. Following the report, military aircraft in the general vicinity were ordered to investigate the area. These aircraft orbited the location for approximately 20 minutes but failed to sight any unknown objects. Furthermore, the objects were never detected by radar at the site. The official Air Intelligence Information Report, authored by Captain Thomas C. Schiebel, notes that the authenticity of the report remains unknown due to the extremely brief duration of the observation. An investigator's note on the report suggests the possibility that the objects may have been balloons or paper being carried by the wind. The report was processed under Project Blue Book and includes correspondence between the 655th ACW Squadron and the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.