[ILLEGIBLE], [ILLEGIBLE] 1952Circa 1952

On July 23, 1952, four U.S. Air Force pilots and radar operators flying in F-84 fighter aircraft spotted three unidentified objects stacked vertically above the Altoona, Pennsylvania area. The objects were observed between 1250 and 1310 Eastern Daylight Time (around 12:50 to 1:10 p.m.) at altitudes between 35,000 and 46,500 feet. The observers estimated the objects were 5,000 to 20,000 feet above their own aircraft.

The three objects maintained a formation with one directly above the other throughout most of the observation. All four witnesses agreed the objects were roughly the same size, approximately 20 feet in diameter, with shiny surfaces that reflected light like polished metal or silver. Observers reported varying impressions of their shapes, with some describing them as cylindrical and oblong, others as nearly square or egg-shaped, and one as flat and rectangular. The middle object reportedly moved outward on a horizontal plane away from the other two, held that position for about 45 seconds, then returned to its original spot. The objects made no sound, showed no visible controls or exhaust, and held their position in the same area without other maneuvers. A weather squall line was nearby but did not obstruct the viewing. The four observers noted that between them they had accumulated about 18 years of flying experience and believed no known atmospheric or meteorological condition could explain what they saw. The pilots were unable to photograph the objects because they could not elevate the aircraft nose high enough at that altitude to aim the camera.

The full case file, as reproduced below and held by the National Archives, comprises 10 scanned pages from microfilm T1206, Roll 12.