San Antonio, TexasJanuary 1953

On the evening of January 9, 1953, three women in San Antonio, Texas spotted an unusual object in the sky while driving home. They were stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Monterrey and Zarzamora Streets around 1715 hours (5:15 p.m.) when the object appeared to the west, heading east. The sighting lasted less than a minute.

The witnesses described a round, luminous object that appeared to be made of aluminum. Size estimates varied among them, ranging from six to eighteen inches in diameter when viewed from about ten feet away. The object had a whitish-gray or silvery color. All three observers agreed the craft moved much faster than conventional aircraft and made no sound. They reported no visible exhaust, trail, or propulsion system. Fair weather prevailed at the time.

The three witnesses gave slightly conflicting accounts of the object's movement. One observer said it appeared to gain altitude gradually. Another reported it veered slightly north from its eastward course. The driver of the car, who could not observe as closely, said it flew in a straight and level path. All agreed the object eventually disappeared by moving out of sight. The observers considered themselves reliable witnesses and none had experienced training in aviation.

The Air Force investigation noted that one witness said the object was much higher than any plane she had ever seen, though exact altitude remained unknown. Fair weather conditions at the time meant no atmospheric effects could explain the sighting. The investigators could identify no meteorological or other activity that might account for what the women saw. No physical evidence was recovered, and no interception or identification action was taken.

The file's conclusion, found on page 9, states the object was "probably jet aircraft," though the brief investigation summary noted "very little information in this report." The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 9 pages.