Butler, MOSeptember 1954

On the evening of September 5, 1954, a Butler, Missouri resident witnessed an unusual object passing overhead. The observer described a silver to white colored craft with a slight swept-back design, trailing exhaust. The sighting lasted only 25 to 30 seconds as the object flew at a straight and level altitude, initially moving southwest before veering south and disappearing from view.

The witness reported seeing a similar but different object the previous night. On the earlier occasion, a string of 20 to 30 white lights had been observed in formation, also moving overhead in a southwest direction, lasting approximately 13 to 14 minutes. That earlier sighting was also reported by two other civilians in the area.

Air Force investigators checked military aircraft in the region at the time of the sighting. A B-47 bomber was stationed 20 miles west of Butler, heading northeast at 34,000 feet, though it was not at the exact location of the observation. Another B-47 was reported eastbound over the area between 34,000 and 39,000 feet. Radar checks produced negative results, and an aircraft identification check also came back negative. Weather observations made at the time did not explain the sightings.

The Air Force concluded the September 5 sighting as unidentified. The full case file, comprising 12 pages as microfilmed, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.