San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 1953April 1953

Insufficient Data

Summary

On April 8, 1953, at around 1130 (11:30 a.m.), several military personnel stationed at Fort Buchanan in San Juan, Puerto Rico observed an unidentified flying object high in the sky. The witnesses described it variously as a "bright star," "bright ball," or "bright ball of fire" at a great altitude. The object moved from north to south and then disappeared upward at high speed. Some witnesses reported it had a spinning or waving motion and remained visible for about ten minutes, positioned close to the sun.

Following the sighting, an investigation was conducted at Ramey Air Force Base (likely referring to Ramey Field operations or related command). The inquiry revealed that two RB-36 aircraft (a long-range reconnaissance bomber) were in the area at the time. These planes were flying at altitudes of 12,000 and 21,000 feet.

The Air Force concluded that the object displayed characteristics of a weather balloon (a radiosonde balloon used to measure atmospheric conditions). The report noted that bright reflections on instruments attached to such balloons could account for some of the witnesses' observations. The file also noted the observers' inexperience, suggesting this may have contributed to their interpretation of what they saw.

The full case file, consisting of seven pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.

Reported location

San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 1953

Date of incident

April 1953

State / country

? / XX

Page count

7 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 18

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 7

View transcribed text

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I. DATE « TIME GRCUP 2. LOCATION
§ ics -v af ~ ’y “ A ~
C Apel bY o3y 15307 wn Juin, IUCT LO IULOo
3. SOUS _ |19. CONCLUSION
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——— Characteristic of a wegliv balloon. Inexperioncal obo yvor,
Bog, paris could be eaused Uy sua reflectiipy on dnstrurins sbbac od
to Liv: balloon, Que radiosonde balloon relecsal ot an Juul, FE,
TN” a — - “at es T_T — . ppd ETERS A 114 JS VERON SRL WEES SLT o* oe dat RAR-H
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION |11. BRIEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS EERE nals : mam
& wilddl ll «L*CIalv
10 dpb es Ong LEAZHt hits Light was sean 2t a high nll tudey hicher
TR PRN gp me J {7% . GT oy RIVET i DIUM TF | N a Ra 3 Z" " ot A ~
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Lill =O &/C An Bhe arer au the Wires Ib moved fron If 40 5
nil pA 44401 Sav pan ad ‘ih NG ak FAT Bai Bl oo 2 PR Sh »
arc diseppeared upwards lovad al nigh speeds Surlks couwld
“ Reh (ly § » RPOIRLNe Shah Assia Na aed oY I, TRE PT A r ae Eh Rv SENET Ra ota ia
CTowa=Visua ll ce gen leaviiy +18 ORge CTs Ii had a spinning or waving
7. COURSE wblon, VEC 1030 In close proximily Lo sun.
Zash an? South :
8. PHOTOS
0 Yes
JlNo
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE :
0 Yes |
LK Ne
FORM
FTD sep 63 0-329 (TDE) Previous editions of this form mey be used,
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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28954230