UFO seen in Ithaca in 1952

Summary

In December 1952, a witness in Ithaca, New York, reported a luminous object resembling a jet exhaust. The phenomenon, described as greenish-blue with an orange-red trail, was moving at high speed toward the west. It was estimated to have traversed 30 degrees of arc in two seconds, implying a speed over 700 miles per hour. Despite the presence of high clouds, no aircraft structure was visible. The description suggests an elongated object moving horizontally. Local civil defense authorities were notified, but no definitive identification was made.

The report, classified under Project 10073, did not reach conclusive answers. Balloons or astronomical phenomena were considered, but none fully explained the sighting. The testimony arrived too late for immediate evaluation, and while questions were answered, no further details were obtained. Like many cases from the era, this one remains unresolved, adding a touch of mystery to the UFO files of the 1950s.