Sheaves Cove, Newfoundland, April 1953April 1953

In April 1953, residents of Sheaves Cove, Newfoundland reported seeing an unusual light in the sky. On April 27, two men were cutting wood when they saw an object shaped like a light bulb, about 8 inches long, pass nearby and extinguish the lantern they were carrying. The object moved silently and disappeared over a mountain. On April 16, a resident near the coast observed a similar light descending toward the area and then vanishing over the sea. That resident reported that objects matching this description had been seen many times since the previous fall.

The Air Force investigated the sightings in May 1953. Witnesses described the object as roughly 18 inches long with a bright, flame-like glow, traveling slowly and silently. One observer estimated the light was about 75 yards away and so bright it lit up the surrounding area. Another witness noted that the object seemed to be descending as it moved and eventually disappeared when it went out of sight beyond a hill or over the sea. Witnesses stated the object traveled slower than a typical airplane and moved in a generally downward direction.

The Air Force collected detailed statements from multiple witnesses over several days of interviews. The witnesses offered consistent descriptions of a bright, bullet-shaped object with an orange or flame-colored glow. The investigation noted no radar contact, no aircraft flight plans, and no physical evidence. However, one of the officials interviewed stated he believed the object was likely an aircraft on approach to Ernest Harmon Air Force Base, conducting a landing light test. The file lists the official evaluation as astronomical (likely a meteor), though significant doubt about this conclusion appears in the investigator notes and interviews.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, consisting of 22 pages.