Chicago Ill, May 1951May 1951

Insufficient Data

Summary

On May 24, 1951, over Chicago, Illinois, civilians reported a strange object at about 1950 (7:50 p.m.). The main witness and his uncle, along with several neighbors, watched the object, which appeared to be a cigar-shaped rocket flying at about 50,000 feet. The sky was clear with perfect visibility.

Witnesses said the object had an exhaust of flame about a mile long. A light at the front blinked off and on, much like a flashlight sending Morse code. The object flew east for about 12 to 15 minutes, then turned north and finally west before disappearing. People watched the flight for about 30 minutes.

The report was forwarded through Army and Air Force channels. The Air Force recorded the case in Project 10073, its official file for unidentified flying object reports. Investigators said the long duration ruled out a rocket and concluded it was probably an aircraft with a contrail, with the blinking light and duration fitting that explanation.

Reported location

Chicago Ill, May 1951

Date of incident

May 1951

State / country

? / XX

Page count

5 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 8

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 5

View transcribed text

SESE
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD ;
I. DATE 2. LOCATION | "2. coNcLuUsIONS
3 Was Bolloon S

24 May 51 Chicagolll 0 Probobly Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION O Possibly Balloon

FR ET CN RESO X Ground- Visual O Ground-Radar . Soll Bed

GMT 25/0150Z 0 Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Rudor 0 Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS . E Fe STR 10 Wes Astronomical

O Yes 1 Probably Astronomical
XNe | Civilians 0 Possibly Astronomicolgontrall
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE | Other Probable Ale w/ _
0 Insufficient Data for Evoluotion

/28 12 = 15 min 1 Fy 0 Unknown
ER mess
Cigar shaped object, Described as rockets Duration rules out rocket sighting.
with exhaust flame about a mile long, Blink Probable a/c with contrall, Blinking
light in front going on and off. Object flew light and duration inaccordance with
from E for about 12 minutes turning west and the analysis,

| finally disappearing from sight, Estimated
altitude by witness 50,000¢,
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 82)
#

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28939243