Imperial, CaliforniaMay 1952

Unidentified

Summary

On May 13, 1952, near Imperial, California, two deputy sheriffs reported unidentified objects. The sighting happened about 0310 (3:10 a.m.).

The witnesses described objects that appeared as soft white to yellow lights. Three objects were first seen heading north when two more joined them. All five then orbited and moved fast, after which three disappeared suddenly and the others headed south. No sound was heard.

The Air Force noted that four F-9-F jet aircraft were airborne on a local flight from about 0300 to 0430 local time. The file states the witnesses possibly saw the jets picking up formation and orbiting, except for the lack of sound. A related card in the file describes another report the same day in which a source thought the lights were cars on a highway. No firm conclusion was marked.

Reported location

Imperial, California

Date of incident

May 1952

State / country

CA / US

Page count

1 scanned page

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 10

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 1

View transcribed text

Th pat A rN oh 1 Bs INE STI y . ’ El ti . _— . Fp— sidan
. . 4 |
’ PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD nes
LI . L . |
© 1 Ju DATE ( % LOCATION, ( g ‘ng CONCLUSIONS
| 13 lay 52 t Imperial, California : 0 Wos Bolloon
eh at Cec i iit | emmeevmnrsen oor 0 Probobly Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 19 Possibly Balloon |
Local e..... _Q310.PST______ IXGround- Visual O Ground-Radar 5, Probably Aircraft ;
STUER LD aa BO AinViswel O Air-Intercept Rodar a
5. PHOTOS “i . SOURCE |O SO Senet
es 0 robably Astronomica
_KNo Two deputy sheriffs DO Possibly Astronomicol
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION : | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE Gm a AO RNCIR AAG SRAL eg 3
O Insufficient Date for Evaluation 3
five: 5 | OD Unknown A
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING BT Pe 11. COMMENTS Rr :
Soft white to yellow color. "Light" shape. | These o
j es 4 ly Three objects were first noticed going :
o8sibly saw bh Jets picking up formation | north when two objects Joined them. All
so orbitting except for absences of five orbitted, going fast, then three
. | disappeared suddenly and fmnom headed
soutn. No sound.
Four F-9-F ( were airborne from 1103.
to 1230Z on local flight (0300 P5T to
0430 PST) |
. V |
Os
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) : |
! EER a Sk oe WL BRA OR LTT 2 FILIP ge i
Te. . 3 |
: PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD |
i DATE. ( 2. LOCATION : / 12. CONCLUSIONS
| ; 0] Wos Balloon
13 Fay 1952 cr edit — O Probably Balloon |
re EE vo | Pt OF OBSERVATION 10 Possibly Balloon
tocol 0350 BSE | HOwwdViswel © DGroundRoder  |O Nes Awards
TERE CF ER O Air Visual D Air-Intercept hae | O Possibly Aircraft
; EE mT ThE ee A ae D Wea Astrenemiesl |
0 Yes 0 Pro obly Astronomica
[EL 9 Possibly Astronemicel |
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE XX Other_C8TS on highway |
| (w] a year Data for Evaluation
(#] nk nown
: 1 lovered . |
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING RT BC COMMENTS |
| |
Source has seen report of sighting--thinks First scen on .bearing of 320° then |
it is cars on highway changed and hovered at different spot, |!
Color: Orange & Blue : |
Shape: Light |
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2) | 9
ll . hi / ry ' a es SE ETE |
Br = J
Re fl La |

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28942085