UFO Sighting Report — Idaho Falls, Idaho, 15 December 1953

This document is a formal military sighting report concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on December 15, 1953, near the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The report details an observation made by three individuals, including a Captain of the Guard at the AEC plant and an inspector employed by the AEC. The witnesses reported observing an object or objects—initially described as one, but later noted as seven lights—that appeared as a clear white, V-shaped formation. To the naked eye, the object appeared as a beam extending in a V-shape from a central point, but when viewed through field glasses, the witnesses were able to distinguish individual lights. The object was observed for approximately 30 seconds, maintaining a straight and level flight path toward the southeast at a 45-degree angle to the horizon. No sound was heard during the observation. The weather conditions were reported as clear with stars visible. Following the report, the Hamilton Flight Service Center and the Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control (ARTC) were consulted to determine if any aircraft were in the vicinity. Both agencies were unable to correlate the sighting with any known air traffic. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency, the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), was that there was insufficient data for a firm evaluation, noting that the reported duration was inconsistent with the level of detail provided by the witnesses. The document includes standard military routing information, indicating it was transmitted from the Hamilton Flight Service Center to various commands, including the Air Defense Command and the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.