Air Intelligence Information Report: D3-UFOB-2-55

This Air Intelligence Information Report, dated March 5, 1955, details the investigation into a series of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings reported on the night of March 3, 1955, in New York City. The investigation was conducted by Detachment 3 of the 4602d Air Intelligence Service Squadron (AISS) following reports from three primary witnesses: an unnamed housewife, and two USMC Corporals, Joseph B. Lidey and John J. Caferey, both stationed at the Marine Barracks in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The witnesses, who were located at 90 Church Street, reported observing a strange, white, oval-shaped object in the sky for approximately one hour. The object was described as rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, occasionally fading, and at times appearing to be pear-shaped. One witness noted that the object eventually appeared to be a cluster of lights, similar to an exploding skyrocket, before disappearing. The investigation included inquiries with the Ground Observer Corps and the Hayden Planetarium, both of which yielded negative results for any legitimate aerial activity. However, the 26th Air Division confirmed that there was significant searchlight activity in the area at the time of the sighting. Captain Haley of the 26th Air Division, who was flying over New York Harbor at approximately 1500 feet during the incident, provided a statement confirming that he observed high-intensity searchlight activity. Based on this evidence, the investigating officers concluded that the sightings were not of an anomalous nature but were instead the result of searchlight beams reflecting off a low-hanging cloud layer or smoke haze. The report includes detailed statements from the witnesses, tracing of their drawings of the object's motion, and meteorological data in the form of weather charts to support the conclusion that the sightings were misidentifications of ground-based light sources.