U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheet — Sighting Report, Addison, New York, 23 April 1953

On 23 April 1953, at 1246 EST, a 29-year-old Forest Ranger in Addison, New York, observed an unidentified aerial object. The witness, who was outdoors at the time, described the object as a small, white, shiny, polished silver entity with a black stripe running from top to bottom. The object appeared to blink and glow at both the top and bottom. Initially, the object was stationary, but it later began moving slowly toward the west. The witness estimated the object's size to be approximately 50 feet and noted that it was positioned slightly above the ground at an estimated distance of three miles. The observation lasted for 25 minutes. The witness reported no sound associated with the object. Weather conditions at the time were described as warm and dry with scattered clouds and a slight breeze. The witness, who was familiar with scanning the horizon for forest fires, stated that he had seen a similar shiny object in 1952. Following the report, U.S. Air Force fighters were scrambled at approximately 1315 EST to investigate, but they reported 'no joy,' meaning they were unable to locate the object. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the sighting was likely an optical phenomenon, a reflection, or a ground object, possibly involving a mirage effect. A handwritten note on one of the documents suggests the possibility of a balloon, though this remains speculative. The witness completed a formal U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheet, providing sketches and detailed descriptions of the object's appearance and motion. The document includes internal military communications between various intelligence and defense units, including the 655th AC&W Squadron and the 32nd Air Division, confirming the report was processed through standard military intelligence channels.