Air Intelligence Information Report: UFOB Sighting at Camp Pomponio, California

This Air Intelligence Information Report details a UFO sighting reported on December 11, 1955, by a camp ranger at Camp Pomponio, California. The witness, a 38-year-old former US Navy cook, reported observing a stationary, funnel-shaped object in the eastern sky for approximately one hour. He described the object as having flashing green, yellow, and white lights, and appearing reddish-orange to the naked eye. Using a 3-inch, 16-power Navy-type periscope, the witness observed the object to be blue-red-yellow in color and noted that it appeared to fluctuate in brightness. The witness tracked the object's movement from an initial position of 90 degrees to 95-100 degrees over the course of the observation. The report notes that the witness had observed similar phenomena in November 1955 but had not reported them, assuming they were stars. Investigative efforts by Detachment 1, 4602nd Air Intelligence Service Squadron included checks with the Hamilton Flight Service Center and the Lick Observatory, both of which yielded negative results for aircraft, balloons, or unusual astronomical phenomena. The preparing officer initially suggested the object might have been an unknown planet or the star Ceres, noting that the witness's periscope might have caused optical distortion. However, the approving officer concluded that the sighting was astronomical in nature and likely caused by the star Betelgeuse. The report is classified as unclassified and serves as a record of the investigation into the incident.