Unidentified object observed in 1951 in Massachusetts

Summary

In January 1951, air traffic control personnel at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts recorded a series of sightings of an unidentified object appearing on radar screens. The object did not exhibit characteristics of a weather balloon, conventional aircraft, or astronomical phenomenon. It was reported to be the same size or larger than a B-36 bomber, raising concern. Radar technicians, including pilots and maintenance staff, observed the object for 15 to 20 minutes. Despite multiple attempts at interception, adverse weather conditions, such as icy roads, prevented aircraft from being dispatched to investigate. No photographs or physical evidence were obtained, and conventional explanations, such as a radar beacon on a balloon, could not be confirmed. The report concluded that the phenomenon might be related to a radar beacon on a B-17, though this was not verified.