Vapor trail and bright object in Somerset, Pennsylvania

Summary

A witness in Somerset, Pennsylvania, observed a short golden vapor trail over the western horizon on July 10, 1954. The trail quickly disappeared and was followed by a bright object without a trail. The observer used 7x50 Zeiss binoculars and estimated the object to be over 10 miles away. The report classified it as a contrail, but the witness insisted it did not resemble the contrails he had seen before. The object made no sound and vanished suddenly. The testimony includes sketches and a critique of researchers who, according to the witness, try to monopolize information on unidentified aerial phenomena.

The observer also mentioned that in 1947 he had proposed the theory of "cancer belts," areas with high concentrations of sightings. Pennsylvania, he noted, was not one of those areas and sightings there tended to be single objects. Despite the report classifying it as a contrail, the witness expressed frustration with the tendency to ignore or downplay U.P.O. reports, and thanked Frank Edwards for regularly sharing such sightings in the media.