SAN JACINTO & PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIADecember 1953

Unidentified

Summary

On December 31, 1953, at about 10:45 a.m. local time between Palm Springs and Riverside, California, a Marine pilot reported one object. The pilot was flying an F9F jet at about 22,000 feet. A civilian from San Jacinto also reported a sighting at about the same position, altitude, and time. The object was watched for about one and a half minutes.

The object was flying horizontally at an estimated 25,000 feet, about the size of a fighter aircraft, and silver in color. It moved at extreme speed and appeared to break apart rapidly, with fire falling from it. It passed from sight flying west. The weather was clear with ground visibility of about 40 miles.

The Air Force record lists the conclusion as a missile or rocket. The report said the sighting was descriptive of a missile or rocket launch.

Reported location

SAN JACINTO & PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Date of incident

December 1953

State / country

CA / US

Page count

2 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 20

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 2

View transcribed text

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i
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I. OATE - TIME GROU[ 2. LOCATION iid J
Dec 1 SAN JACINTO & PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA BB
3. SOURCE 10. CONC ;
USO rrr: MISSILE/ROCKET |
MILITARY Sighting descriptive of missile/rocket launch.
4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS i
one " :
45. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION [11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
1} mins Obj flying horizontelly at est 25,000 ft, size of fighter e/c.
Flying at extreme speed and appeared to disimegrate. Fire
. P RVATI
fo YT w— - falling fom obj. Silver color, obj passed from sight flying
ground & eir visual west.
7. COURSE :
breaking up ;
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
O Yes ) :
0 Ne
FORM Ti
FTD ser 63 0-329 (TDE) previous editions of this form may bo used.

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28957198