UFO seen over Massachusetts in 1950

Summary

In December 1950, a technician from Remington Rand in Springfield, Massachusetts, reported an unidentified flying object that suddenly appeared in the sky. The witness, nervous but sincere, described a half-moon shaped object with a silvery outline and shadow, moving at a speed exceeding any known aircraft. The object appeared at an estimated altitude between 10,000 and 20,000 feet, without leaving exhaust or typical jet engine noise. The observer, a member of the Air National Guard, noted the sound that alerted him was similar to wind over wires, but different from conventional aircraft. Although unable to determine exact size or distance, the report includes a sketch of the object, adding credibility to the account.

The official report, classified and later declassified, was reviewed by an intelligence officer who considered the possibility that the sound might have been caused by a nearby commercial vehicle or that the vision was misleading due to sunlight. However, the witness insisted the object was non-conventional. The radar at Westover Air Base was inoperative at the time, so the object could not be confirmed via radar. Despite limitations, the testimony was detailed enough to be included in an air intelligence report. This case, like many from the era, reflects the authorities' concern over unexplained aerial phenomena during the Cold War.