UFO sighted in 1955 in Grand Rapids

Summary

A 13-year-old civilian in Grand Rapids, Michigan, observed a white oval object leaving a contrail larger than the object itself. The case was classified as likely aircraft based on the sighting description. The witness, who was taking night photographs, managed to capture an image of the object, though it is not preserved in the files. The object moved west to east at a 45-degree elevation before disappearing over the horizon.

The report, dated October 23, 1955, includes details such as clear weather and excellent visibility. Although a photograph was supposedly obtained, no record of it exists today. The officer in charge was Lieutenant Frederick Cheffy, who evaluated the available data. This case is part of the Project 10073 records, a U.S. Air Force initiative to investigate UFO sightings.