Unidentified Flying Object Near Tillamook, Oregon 9 June 1953

On 9 June 1953, at 1010 PST, two United States Air Force officers, 2nd Lt. I. N. Patterson and 2nd Lt. Alfred Slynn, stationed with the Moby Dick balloon launching detachment at Tillamook Naval Air Station, Oregon, observed an unidentified aerial object. The object was viewed through a theodolite and was described as white in color and half-moon in shape. The observers reported that the object appeared to hover for approximately two hours, and they noted no visible means of propulsion, exhaust, or trails. The observers explicitly stated their belief that the moon could not have caused the sighting. The incident was reported via teletype to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and the 25th Air Division. Following an investigation, which included consultation with the Project Blue Book astronomer, the official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center was that the object was the planet Venus. The report notes that under ideal conditions, Venus can be visible during daylight hours. The documentation includes internal correspondence between ATIC and Dr. Allen Hynek at The Ohio State University, confirming the identification of the object as Venus. The report concludes that the officers, being part of a balloon detachment, were experienced in observing high-altitude objects, yet the final assessment remained that the sighting was astronomical in nature.