Patrick AFB, Fla, August 1954August 1954

On the evening of August 21, 1954, military observers at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida spotted an unusual object in the sky. The object appeared as a dome projecting underneath a flat surface, about the size of a dime held at arm's length. It had a white to silver body with occasional red flashes of light.

The observers tracked the object for one hour and twenty-four minutes using a theodolite, a precision telescope used to measure angles and positions. The object began at an elevation of 85 degrees and azimuth (direction) of 248 degrees, and moved to an elevation of 2 degrees at an azimuth of 252 degrees. It traveled in a general direction but with slight wavering. The observers lost sight of it when cumulus clouds appeared in the sky.

The sighting took place during dusk and into the night, with scattered cirrus clouds and generally clear visibility. Military personnel conducted the ground observation, and their detailed measurements were recorded on the case file.

In a note appended to the file, a scientist from Greenwich, Connecticut suggested the object was likely a weather balloon, possibly one carrying scientific instruments. He noted that such balloons can reach heights of 100,000 feet and remain visible for considerable distances. The Air Force record card lists the official evaluation as "unknown," though the case file mentions the possibility of a balloon.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 10 pages of microfilm.