San Angelo, TexasMay 1952

On May 19, 1952, a B-36 bomber crew flying near San Angelo, Texas, spotted seven unusual white objects arranged in a vertical column ahead of their aircraft. The sighting lasted about 15 to 20 minutes and occurred at an altitude of 18,000 feet, with the objects estimated to be positioned between 25,000 and 40,000 feet.

The objects were white in color and circular in shape. Some crew members described them as resembling small vapor trails or "white doughnuts." A pair of six-power binoculars brought out more detail, confirming they looked like white clouds with fuzzy edges typical of dissipating vapor trails. The aircraft's radar operator reported no unusual returns on his scope.

One crew member who carried a personal 35mm camera loaded with color film managed to take six photographs of the objects, though only two proved usable. These photographs were forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. A ground observer from San Angelo Radio Station was also able to see the objects from the ground and corroborated the sighting.

The aircraft reported the sighting to San Angelo Ground Station. The report was delayed because the B-36 crew did not record it until May 29, 1952, ten days after the event. Further delays occurred while the color film was being processed and black and white photographs made.

The approving officer's analysis noted that while the objects were clearly observed, the most likely explanation was exhaust puffs from a vertically launched, multiple-phase rocket or guided missile. However, the officer acknowledged that the 35-knot wind velocity at 13,000 feet made it unlikely that exhaust would remain that long without dissipating. The Air Force evaluated the case as unidentified.

The complete case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives across 20 pages.