Air Intelligence Information Report: Unidentified Flying Object (UFOB) - Mesa, Arizona, 8 April 1958

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report regarding a sighting of an Unidentified Flying Object (UFOB) over Mesa, Arizona, on 8 April 1958. The report was prepared by the 3525th Combat Crew Training Wing at Williams Air Force Base and submitted to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Two civilian witnesses, both employed by the telephone company, reported observing an oblong, cigar-shaped object at approximately 1945 hours. The witnesses described the object as being the size of a grapefruit when held at arm's length, featuring rectangular windows from which orange light emanated. The object was observed moving rapidly from north to south, dipping low over the city of Mesa, before performing a steep climb to the southwest and fading from view. The total duration of the sighting was approximately 10 seconds. The weather was reported as clear with no clouds, smoke, or haze, and no stars were visible. The investigating officer, 1st Lt. James W. Roby, noted that the witnesses appeared to be 'saucer' believers and that their knowledge of aircraft was limited. The officer also mentioned that the witnesses' brother, a former Air Force jet pilot, had discussed jet flight with them, which may have influenced their interpretation. The Civil Aeronautics Administration in Phoenix had no record of aircraft in the area at the time of the sighting. The final ATIC comment concluded that the object could possibly be an aircraft, noting that it was under the reported weather conditions at the time.