Albuqueruque, New MexicoMay 1952

On May 10, 1952, an Air Force colonel and his wife, stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque, New Mexico, watched two unusual objects in the afternoon sky from their home. Both were silver-colored and disc-shaped, with no visible means of propulsion. The first object appeared around 1500 MST (3 p.m.) in the southwest at a very high altitude, roughly the size of a B-36 bomber seen from 25,000 feet. It seemed to flip or turn over occasionally as it moved on a steady northeast course. The couple observed it for about five to ten minutes before it disappeared. A second similar object appeared roughly ten to fifteen minutes later, even higher than the first, and also moved northeast. The wife noted it had no tail and made no sound.

The colonel called the radar operator at the 135th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Kirtland to ask if the objects appeared on their radar screen. The officer on duty, Lieutenant Wagner, reported that he could not pick them up. The colonel continued watching the second object for five to ten minutes until it went out of sight. He noted that two F-8A fighter jets in the area were flying at about 55,000 feet, but this object was considerably higher and holding a constant course.

Both witnesses were deemed reliable. The colonel held an official position with the 34th Air Division at Kirtland. No photographs were taken, and no estimates of speed could be made due to the extreme altitude.

The Air Force investigation could not explain the sighting. The case file indicates the objects were unidentified and notes that radar attempts yielded negative results.

The full case file, 13 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.