5 mi. SW Effingham, Ill., September 1950September 1950

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 13, 1950, about 6 miles southwest of Effingham, Illinois, a civilian pilot and a passenger reported strange lights. The sighting happened between 7:30 and 7:40 p.m. at about 8,000 feet. The report is part of Project 10073, the Air Force's official record for unidentified flying object reports.

The pilot said a set of three lights appeared to be on a collision course with his private plane. He made a sharp turn to the right, then a climbing turn to the left to get a better look. The lights looked like a dim, rosy red triangle. Because of the dark night, nothing else could be seen. Before he could circle them, the lights disappeared. The pilot, who had about 6,000 flying hours, was considered reliable.

Air Force officers noted that no other similar reports came from people near Effingham at that time. They suggested that night flying conditions can cause optical illusions and felt the report could be attributed to several causes.

Reported location

5 mi. SW Effingham, Ill., September 1950

Date of incident

September 1950

State / country

? / XX

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 7

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

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ATIC NO, = == —. DATE OF TNVO__13 Sept 1950 | |
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AF 0. see vAewon__ sai. ow tfiades Te R
WRPOMT NO, *e  *-  SOURCE___ Civilian Pilot THEA Nl
ATR OF WPORP coo . DATE IN TOATIC_e « :
ES a —_— RRs con cnntmsivmily os +-
TOE OF STORING 1930-1940 ck COLOR_ _ Dull Red fd
. J i " Rotimted
SVAMS__ triangle BPFED__ = = = Measure? TTC
TT
SIN -- = ARTE —_ ALTITUDF_ . » = Basers
. COURSE eew © L¥NGTH OF TIM: ODSMAVFD «aa |
NO. IN Grour_ 3 a is _ TYPE OF OBSERVATION __ Aerial _ __ .._ __F
NOU) = = = | .__ MANBUVERS _ = = = a I
SAE ll REMARKS: A set of three lights was
Pills ==  OKRICHRS === observed but before source could circle
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Peaporary ATIC Form 320 | same they disappeared. hE: ¥
(2 Jan 52) os . «7 |
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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28938366