Sighting Report: St. Louis, Missouri, 8 December 1953

On December 8, 1953, at 0330Z, a pilot and copilot from the 113th Light Bombardment Squadron, flying a B-26 out of Lambert Field, St. Louis, Missouri, reported an unidentified aerial object. The observers described the object as being similar in size to a B-29, silver in color, and featuring four nacelles without propellers. The aircraft had swept-back wings with an oval-shaped trailing edge. Notable lighting features included blue lights at the rear of the nacelles, two rows of three lights on the bottom, and white lights on the wingtips shining outward. The object was initially observed at an altitude of 3,500 feet. The observers attempted to circle the object, which appeared to evade them by flying west. During the encounter, the observers turned off their navigation lights and increased speed, eventually catching up to the object approximately 40 miles west of the original sighting location at an altitude of 6,000 feet. Upon approaching within 200 feet, a bright light was directed at the observers from the object, which caused intense static on their radio. The observers lost sight of the object after performing a 360-degree turn. The total duration of the sighting was approximately 13 minutes. Official analysis by the Wing Intelligence Officer at Scott Air Force Base concluded that the sighting was likely a B-50 aircraft, noting that a B-50 was in the area at the time of the incident.