Air Intelligence Information Report — Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, 5 April 1953

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report regarding a UAP sighting reported on 5 April 1953 near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The report details an observation made by a civilian named Cliff Nelson, who described seeing a small, white, star-like object moving at a high rate of speed in circular patterns. The observation lasted for approximately ten minutes before the object vanished. The report notes that the witness had no prior experience in aircraft recognition or flying. At the time of the sighting, weather conditions were reported as overcast. The report was processed by the 31st Air Division at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The official conclusion reached by the military authorities was that there was insufficient data available to evaluate the sighting. The document includes standard military correspondence headers, a summary of the incident, and administrative markings indicating its eventual declassification under DOD Directive 5200.10.