Hayward, CaliforniaSeptember 1953

On September 22, 1953, a civilian in Hayward, California, observed a triangular object in the sky. The witness used a power telescope to get a closer look. The object was yellow, with a thin metallic-red appearance, and was visible because it could move slowly or accelerate rapidly. It approached the city of Hayward from the direction of Oakland at a low speed, then moved over Hayward with erratic motions, climbed steeply, and vanished at high speed. The sighting lasted about 3 minutes.

The Air Force questioned the observer's reliability, noting that the witness was "not concise on details." A power telescope was used during the observation. Weather conditions were clear with 10,000-foot visibility, and winds aloft were light and variable. No sound was heard during the sighting.

The Air Force investigated by checking with nearby military bases. Hamilton AFB reported that only two fighter aircraft from Moffett Naval Air Station and one from Cargand NAS had flown in the Bay Area that day, and none were near the sighting location. The Air Force also confirmed there were no known Moby Dick balloons (a classified balloon surveillance program) in the area, and no known atmospheric phenomenon that could explain the sighting. No information was available on civilian aircraft in the region.

The preparing officer noted in the file that a complete lack of investigative resources at both the local flight service level and headquarters prevented any valid conclusion from the report or any addition of further information. The Air Force classified the sighting as unidentified. The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, and comprises 7 pages.