Addison, New YorkApril 1953

On April 23, 1953, a person in Addison, New York saw a small white object in the sky that appeared to glow at the top and bottom, with a black stripe running vertically down its center. The object was spotted around 12:46 p.m. EST and remained visible for approximately 25 minutes. At first it stood still, but later it moved slowly toward the west. The observer estimated the object was about three miles away and appeared roughly the size of a silver dollar held at arm's length.

The observer noticed the object flickered or pulsated. The weather conditions were normal, with a clear sky. When the object finally disappeared from view, it faded gradually and vanished in the distance. The witness completed a detailed questionnaire for the U.S. Air Force, providing sketches and directional estimates, though some portions of these handwritten sections are difficult to read in the case file.

The Air Force scrambled fighter aircraft at approximately 1:15 p.m. EST to investigate, but they found nothing. The official Air Force conclusion stated the sighting was likely "optical phenomena of some sort, reflection of a round object, with possible associated mirage effect." A handwritten note on the case file remarks simply "Balloon???" but provides no further explanation of this assessment. The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, containing 13 pages.