Air Intelligence Information Report — Black Hawk, South Dakota, 15 September 1953

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report dated 15 September 1953, originating from the 740th AC&W Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota. The report details multiple sightings of an unidentified aerial object by civilians in the Black Hawk area of South Dakota. The first sighting occurred at approximately 1945 MST, when witnesses observed a red light traveling back and forth from north to south. The object reportedly changed color from red to a yellowish glow and then to a brilliant white, eventually disappearing behind a hill. A second sighting by the same witnesses occurred at 2300 MST at a drive-in movie theater, where the object was observed hovering over the screen before disappearing again. The witnesses estimated the object's speed at 150 to 200 miles per hour and its altitude at 26,000 feet. The report notes that the sky was clear and the moon was visible. The investigating officer, Captain Atha L. Le Croix, and the commander, Major Allen L. Atwell, expressed skepticism regarding the reports. They noted that the witnesses had previously reported unidentified objects and suggested that the sightings might be a 'figment of their imagination' resulting from the long hours the witnesses spent working at the Ground Observer Corps (GOC) post in Black Hawk. The report also references a previous, similar report submitted on 6 August 1953. The document concludes that if the objects were as described, they likely would have been observed by a larger number of people, casting doubt on the validity of the reports. The file includes completed U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheets, which provide personal details of the witnesses and their specific observations, including sketches of the object's path and appearance.