UFO photographed by the Coast Guard in 1952

Summary

In July 1952, a Coast Guard photographer in Salem, Massachusetts, captured an image of four bright lights in the sky. The photograph generated public interest and was analyzed by Air Force experts. However, the analysis concluded the image was suspicious due to the absence of reflections on nearby parked cars, unusual for such bright objects. It was suggested the image might be a double exposure or an optical illusion. Despite doubts, the photograph became one of the most famous UFO sightings of the 1950s.

The Coast Guard released the image without commenting on its origin, while the press presented it as a possible flying saucer sighting. Years later, an alternative explanation emerged: the objects were reflections of interior lights on a window, explaining the lack of car reflections. Although controversy remains, the case remains a classic example of how UFO reports were handled during the Cold War era.