Report of Unknown Flying Object - Peoria, Illinois - 17 August 1953

This document details a UAP sighting report from 17 August 1953 in Peoria, Illinois. Two civilian observers, Robert F. Webster and Margaret M. McIlvaine, reported seeing a brilliant white, spherical object at approximately 1445 CST. The object was described as being the size of a baseball, suspended in the air, and moving slowly south-southeast. The observation lasted for 30 minutes. Personnel from the 791st AC&W Squadron in Hanna City, Illinois, also reported observing a half-moon shaped object in the same vicinity at the time of the sighting. The 791st AC&W Squadron conducted an investigation, which included checking radar logs, local airfields, and weather stations. The radar at Hanna City did not detect any unusual tracks. While initial checks with local weather stations indicated no weather balloons had been released, a subsequent check of upper air balloon tracks confirmed that an air research balloon was over Peoria at the time of the sighting. The official conclusion reached by the investigating unit was that the object was a balloon. The report includes correspondence between the 791st AC&W Squadron and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) regarding the request for additional information, such as azimuth and elevation readings, and the final submission of the AF Form 112. The document is marked as unclassified and includes standard declassification instructions.