Project Blue Book Case File
Lake Charles, AFB, La., August 1952August 1952
Summary
On the morning of August 9, 1952, an airman stationed at Lake Charles Air Force Base in Louisiana saw an unusual flying object while walking to work. The object appeared to be spherical or disk-shaped, roughly 12 inches across as viewed from about 3,000 feet away. It was moving much faster than any jet aircraft the observer had ever seen.
The sighting occurred around 1050 hours (10:50 a.m.) in clear, slightly cloudy weather with little wind. The observer watched the object travel from north to south, then turn and head due west over the base. He estimated it was flying at an altitude of around 5,000 feet. The object gave off a reddish-yellow light but made no sound. The observer saw it for approximately one minute.
The Air Force's initial investigation found no evidence of radar detection, photographs, or other physical proof of the sighting. No other aircraft were in the area at the time, and no interception was attempted. The observer reported seeing the object move in front of clouds at one point during the sighting. When asked what he thought the object was, the observer stated he had no idea, though he noted it might have been weather-related. He emphasized that everything in his statement was what he actually saw and that he had never witnessed a jet traveling at such a speed.
The Air Force classified this case as unknown, noting in its evaluation that there was insufficient data to reach a definitive conclusion. The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, 16 pages.
Reported location
Lake Charles, AFB, La., August 1952
Date of incident
August 1952
State / country
? / XX
Page count
16 scanned pages
USAF evaluation
unknown
Microfilm
T1206, Roll 14