U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheet — Sighting Report, Brooklyn, New York, 20 April 1953

This document is a U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheet detailing a sighting reported by a civilian in Brooklyn, New York, on the evening of April 20, 1953. The witness, a process piping engineer, was walking home from the subway when they observed an object in the sky at approximately 21:37. The witness described the object as initially appearing as a pinpoint of light, which then rapidly grew in size to a teardrop shape. The object was observed for 3-4 seconds, moving in a southwest or south-southwest direction toward Jamaica Bay. The witness noted that the object changed colors, transitioning from yellow to bright white with a dark center, and finally to orange with a dark center before disappearing. The witness explicitly stated that the object made no sound and left no visible trail. In their analysis, the witness compared the object to an airplane and a meteor, noting that it did not resemble a typical meteor due to its low altitude, slow speed, and lack of a trail. The witness provided detailed sketches of the object's motion and appearance, noting that it appeared to be a flat, circular object that banked or turned on its side before disappearing, which they likened to turning off a light bulb. The official conclusion recorded on the form by the Air Technical Intelligence Center is that the object was an astronomical event, specifically a meteor, noting that the description provided by the witness coincided with that of a meteor. The witness themselves remained uncertain, stating that if it was not a meteor, they had no idea what it was, other than a so-called flying saucer.