Unidentified Flying Objects - Special Inquiry - Belmar, New York

This document is a formal report from the 2D District Office of Special Investigations regarding an unidentified flying object sighting in Belmar, New York, on December 3, 1953. The report includes a statement from an Air Force Reserve First Lieutenant who, while working as a navigator, observed the sky at 1935 hours. The witness noted the constellation Orion and identified Jupiter at the zenith. While observing the sky, the witness spotted an ovoid, pulsating light-orange object moving at a high speed, estimated between 1500 and 2000 miles per hour. The object traveled West for approximately 3 to 4 seconds before turning abruptly to the North for another 1 to 2 seconds, eventually exiting the witness's field of vision. The sky was described as being absolutely cloudless at the time. The official evaluation by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded that the object was not a planet, as Jupiter was not in that position until several hours later. While the report suggests the object could have been a meteor, it notes that the abrupt turn might be an optical illusion. Ultimately, the official conclusion is that there was insufficient data to reach a definitive determination. The document was forwarded by the 5th OSI District to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for further review. It is marked as unclassified and notes that any unauthorized disclosure of the information would be a violation of Air Force Regulation 205-1.