Project 10073 Record Cards and Air Intelligence Information Report — New York City, February 1955

This collection of documents details investigations into UFO sightings reported in New York City in February 1955. The primary incident occurred on 14 February 1955, where a witness reported an oval-shaped, yellow object that appeared to move erratically from south to north over Central Park. The object was observed for two to three minutes and was noted to be significantly brighter during the third of three sightings. A subsequent report on 15 February 1955 involved a photographer who discovered a 'speck' on a negative after taking pictures in Central Park, though the photographer did not recall seeing anything unusual at the time. The 4602d Air Intelligence Service Squadron and the 26th Air Division conducted an investigation into these reports. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was that the sightings were not anomalous, but rather the result of powerful searchlights operating in the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island areas. The investigators explained that the light beams reflecting off haze or low cloud layers created the appearance of objects, and the perceived erratic movements and sudden reversals were consistent with the mechanics of searchlight beams. The 'speck' on the photograph was similarly dismissed as a reflection from a nearby lighted object. Due to the conclusion that the phenomena were caused by searchlight activity, the military determined that no further investigation was required.