Sighting of a UFO in Chico California in 1952

Summary

A large white glowing object was observed over Chico, California, on August 3, 1952. Witnesses described it as a large round light moving slowly at low altitude, below 2000 feet. The sighting lasted between 2 and 3 minutes and was seen from the top of the Hotel Oaks, a civil guard post. The object moved north, then stopped and continued northeast before disappearing. Although no photos or radar were used, multiple reports indicate the object made no noise and its identity remained unresolved.

The official conclusion was that the object "possibly" was an aerial phenomenon, but no definitive explanation was reached. This case is part of the Project 10373 records, a set of UFO sightings analyzed by the Air Force. The document was declassified in 1968, 15 years after the sighting, as part of a periodic review of sensitive information.