Ellenton, South CarolinaMay 1952

On the evening of May 10, 1952, four civilian employees of the DuPont Company saw a series of unusual objects near the Savannah River Plant in Ellenton, South Carolina. The witnesses described all the objects as disc-shaped, roughly fifteen inches in diameter, and colored yellow to gold. The first group of four objects approached from the south at approximately 22:45 (10:45 p.m.) and disappeared heading northward. About twenty minutes later, two more similar objects appeared, also traveling from south to north. At 23:10 (11:10 p.m.), a single object came from the northeast heading southwest. Finally, around 23:15 (11:15 p.m.), another object traveled from south to north. All objects moved at high speed and at high altitude, making no sound. One notable detail involved the last object, which the witnesses said was flying so low that it had to climb to clear some tall water tanks in the plant's 400 area.

The witnesses reported that while the objects weaved slightly from left to right, they seemed to maintain a general course. Because of their speed and altitude, each object remained visible for only a few seconds.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation learned of the sighting and reported it to the Air Force. According to the case file, the FBI noted that the sighting occurred near the time of a balloon launch, and the file mentions a report of similar objects that "turned out to be ducks," though no definite connection was made. The Air Force's conclusion was listed as "Unidentified."

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