Gathersburg, MarylandSeptember 1953

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 23, 1953, at 9:28 p.m. in Gathersburg, Maryland, a civilian observer reported seeing an unidentified object. The observer thought the object was in trouble. The sighting lasted 7 minutes. The object had red lights with a glowing appearance and seemed to bounce or waiver on a steady course. It was about the size of a baseball. Only one object was observed. No sound was heard. The object traveled from east to west. An observer rushed out of a door to see it in the sky. The object was observed at 9:45 p.m. for 7 minutes and then disappeared over the horizon. The Air Force concluded it was an aircraft.

Reported location

Gathersburg, Maryland

Date of incident

September 1953

State / country

MD / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 19

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

1. DATE - TIME GROUP                    2. LOCATION
23 September 53  23/0426Z             Gathersburg, Maryland

3. SOURCE                              10. CONCLUSION
Civilian                               AIRCRAFT

4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS                   11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
One                                    Red lights with glowing appearance seemed to bounce or
                                       waiver on a steady course. Object about
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION               the size of a baseball. Only one
7 minutes 38                           object observed. No sound heard.

6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
Ground-Visual

7. COURSE
West

8. PHOTOS
Yes
No

9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
[illegible] Maryland        aircraft

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28956330