Ft. Davis, TexasApril 1953

Unidentified

Summary

On April 19, 1953, at about 1320 (1:20 p.m.), a civilian reported an object near Fort Davis, Texas. The witness wrote a letter to the Civil Aeronautics Administration at Marfa, Texas, which forwarded it to Air Force intelligence at Biggs Air Force Base.

The object was oblong and amber colored. It appeared to float near a vapor trail, at about the same altitude. It seemed to hover at times, then began swinging in an arc toward the north with great acceleration, and short pointed wings became visible. There was no sound and no vapor trail. It followed a course a little west of north and disappeared over the horizon in about 45 seconds. The witness said it changed direction slightly two or three times as it shrank to a speck. The sighting lasted about 45 seconds.

An airways official noted that at least one jet aircraft with swept back wings was operating in that area at about the time of the sighting. The Air Force concluded the cause was aircraft, likely a jet at high altitude with the sun reflecting off it.

Reported location

Ft. Davis, Texas

Date of incident

April 1953

State / country

TX / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 18

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

» &. hn v \ Pm }
[2 Tre.
‘NS ’ i.
|
I. DATE - TIME GRO. ? 2. LOCATION ]
19 April 53 19/1920Z Ft. David, Terns |
10. CONCLUSION |
pre CLA Lion AIRCR/FT | -
- i Jot a/c vith swept Lack wings was flyin: in Lie vieciniy of |
- [SATACHR WGI, WL h [335 gf mak Wid 3G Vicdnd eA" |
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS Le ~ RL 2 als 32 P 2 € 8 uy yr 3 4 fig v * hy ’ t
tLe of the sightings Ib is believed that object wns thre a/c
One at high altisude with the sun reflceting off It eousing the wodfr )
S. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION |11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS ak
é ~ $e es “ Pha ale Lod Ns, Ag a” a 0) Ll a A 8 - Re \
L5 weConas Oblong Sis ned arpa Co..oreu object reso bled bird 1.ydNg uw
hich altitude. Object apiearcd to Lover thon aceercrabe |
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION wart 1x EER RR er Rt (Ra PRY
: rapiclys Object changed directions J tines, 12.10, fell
Growxi=Visual and dlsepyeared below the horizon.
7. COURSE
let Reported
8. PHOTOS
0 Yes
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
0 Yes
FORM ;
FTD sep 63 0:329 (TDE) previous editions of this form may be used.
°

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28954330