UFO observed at Camp Drum in 1956

Summary

In September 1956, an observer at Camp Drum, New York, reported a non-identified object with a conical shape, the size of a dime, and a pinkish color that turned white. The object remained stationary for approximately two hours, fading out and reappearing multiple times. Although investigators considered the possibility that it was Mars, the object's behavior did not match that of a star. The official report classified it as "possibly astronomical," but did not rule out the idea that it could have been a balloon or an atmospheric phenomenon.

The witness, Ronald H. Schalon, an army soldier, used binoculars to observe the phenomenon from Wheeler Sac Airport. The weather conditions were clear with light winds, and there was no noise or aerial activity detected. Although the report suggested it might have been a star, the fact that the object disappeared and reappeared contradicted that hypothesis. This case, like many from the era, reflects the uncertainty and the need for more rigorous evaluation of unidentified aerial phenomena.