HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINADecember 1952

Unidentified

Summary

On December 1, 1952, an Air Force pilot near Hartsville, South Carolina reported observing a circular silver object about the size of a half dollar from a distance of ten miles. The object appeared to oscillate while losing altitude at a rate suggesting a speed of 300 miles per hour and an altitude of 15,000 feet. The sighting lasted 10 to 15 seconds. An investigation checked the report against a similar sighting from Greensboro, North Carolina on December 1. The Air Force concluded the object was a conventional balloon.

Reported location

HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

Date of incident

December 1952

State / country

SC / US

Page count

1 scanned page

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 16

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 1

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

LOCATION: HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

15 Dec 52

15/051532
15/141524

SOURCE: AF Pilot

10-15 sec

1

Circular silver object appeared size of half dollar; from a ten mile distance. Object appeared to oscillate, losing altitude at a rate indicating an altitude of 15,000' traveling 300 mph.

1. This report was checked against a similar one from Greensboro, N.C., 120 miles south which took place 10 minutes after this sighting. Result: No apparent correlation between the two as the speed is too high for balloon or jet.

2. This object described a conventional balloon.

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28952063