Unidentified Flying Object Sighting Report — Holbrook, Arizona, September 1953

This document is a collection of reports and correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on September 4, 1953, in the vicinity of Holbrook, Arizona. The primary report, dated September 14, 1953, was prepared by 1st Lt. Andrew L. Wallace of the 22nd Bomb Wing Intelligence Office. The sighting involved a pulsating blue light observed by the crew of a C-47 aircraft (43-43909) piloted by Lt. Col. James M. Hayes. The object was estimated to be approximately two feet in diameter, traveling at speeds exceeding 500 mph at an altitude between 18,000 and 20,000 feet. The crew reported that the object moved in a steady path and was observed for a short duration, rising from the horizon to the zenith in approximately 30 seconds. The weather conditions were reported as CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited). The pilot contacted the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) station at Winslow, but the station reported that their radar equipment was unable to track the object. A secondary report from Zuni Radio also noted that operators observed a pulsating blue-green light that pulsed five times. The official conclusion provided in the documentation categorizes the phenomenon as a 'rocket or fireball.' However, the investigating officer, 1st Lt. Wallace, noted in his comments that the steady flight path of the object made it unlikely to be a normal jet exhaust. Furthermore, the document includes a candid assessment by the preparing officer, stating that a total lack of investigative capabilities at the Flight Service Center or Headquarters level prevented any valid conclusion from being reached or further information from being added. The file includes various teletype communications between military units, including the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and the Air Defense Command (ADC), documenting the incident through the CIRVIS (Communication Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings) reporting system.