Unidentified Flying Object Sighting Report — Korea, 26 December 1953

On December 26, 1953, at approximately 1625Z, a pilot identified as LT Barr, flying a T-6 aircraft between K-16 and K-47 in Korea, encountered an unidentified flying object. The pilot initially mistook the object for a reflection of the sun off another fighter aircraft. Upon closer inspection, the object was described as diamond-shaped, flat, and orange in color, with a semitransparent appearance, particularly around the edges. The object was estimated to be approximately six feet in length and eighteen inches thick. During the five-minute observation, the object performed a shallow ten-degree dive and accelerated to an estimated speed of 1,000 to 1,200 mph. The pilot attempted to pursue the object, noting that it was capable of turning inside his own aircraft's turning radius. At one point, the object ascended straight up several hundred feet without altering its altitude relative to the horizon. The pilot also observed what appeared to be sparks in the air a short distance behind the object. The encounter concluded when the object proceeded toward the sun and visual contact was lost. The official conclusion reached by the reporting authorities was that the object was a balloon. The report was transmitted to HQ 5AF for further investigation.