Project Blue Book Case File
Kirtland AFB, New MexicoSeptember 1952
Summary
# Summary
On the night of September 23, 1952, an unidentified flying object was observed over Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. The sighting occurred around 2200 hours (10 p.m.) and was witnessed by trained military personnel on the ground. The object appeared as a single shape at approximately 15,000 feet altitude and roughly one mile away from observers at the base. It was described in very brief terms in the available documentation.
The investigation that followed included checks of nearby airfields for possible aircraft activity and a review of weather conditions at the time. Investigators noted the reliability of the observers who spotted the object. However, the file materials provided contain primarily cover sheets, routing documents, and case records rather than detailed investigative findings specific to this particular sighting.
The U.S. Air Force officially evaluated this case as unidentified, meaning the object could not be explained as any known aircraft, balloon, astronomical phenomenon, or other conventional source. The complete case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, spanning 30 pages.
Reported location
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Date of incident
September 1952
State / country
NM / US
Page count
30 scanned pages
USAF evaluation
unidentified
Microfilm
T1206, Roll 15