Elliptical UFO sighted in Ohio in 1954

Summary

In August 1954, a witness in Westlake, Ohio, reported a bright, elliptical object in the sky. The sighting occurred at 17:17 local time and lasted about 20 seconds. The object, described as the size of a shirt button, appeared at approximately 5000 feet and hovered for a few seconds before dropping suddenly to 2000 feet. The descent was rapid, like free fall, and then it vanished abruptly, as if turned off. The witness, a member of the Cleveland Astronomical Society, stated he could not identify the object as a celestial phenomenon, balloon, or conventional aircraft.

The Air Force concluded it was likely a balloon, though the detailed testimony and description of the vertical drop didn't fit typical balloon behavior. The report didn't rule out other possibilities but no further investigation was conducted. The case was filed as "insufficient data for evaluation," suggesting the evidence wasn't conclusive. Despite official doubts, the witness's background in aircraft identification and astronomy adds credibility to the sighting.