PROJECT BLUE BOOK

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT CASE FILES · 1947 – 1969

CASE REFERENCE6979538

DATE OF SIGHTINGAugust 1953

REPORTED LOCATIONPeoria Illinois

FRAMES8

→ Original microfilm scan (PDF) → Return to index

Machine transcription · mean legibility 52.8/100 · engines: tesseract-200dpi

Transcribed Frames

FRAME 001 / 008tesseract-200dpi

1. DATE - Timt GROUP
19/71,.52 opin

2 LOCATION

4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS

_
my

6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION

ee

8. PHOTOS

Yee

Eilne
9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
mene rt Aus | [Pacr’., TI. | Balloon? | o=2
FORM

FTD sep 63 0-329 (TOE) Previess mame ot née loom wey be vood.

FRAME 002 / 008tesseract-200dpi

UNCLASSIFIED

17 August 1953 Peoria, Illinois

Description

Two civilian observers at different locations in Peoria saw an uni-
‘y dentified flying object at 1445 CST 17 August 1953. The object appeared
the size of a baseball with a very brilliant white color. No trail or
exhaust was observed and the object seemed to be suspended in the sir

end then slowly moved away. The speed of the object was unknown. The
object was observed south of Peoria and moved off south-southeast. At

the time of this sighting, personnel of the 79lst AC&W Squadron, Hanna
City, Tllinole, observed a half-moon shaped object in the same vicinity.
Total time of observation was 30 minutes.

Discuselon

The AC&W Savndron at Hanna City did not pick up any unusual tracks
on ~a@ar in the «c#=s ~entioned. Checks with local weather station for
pooslble release detereined that there were no weather balloons in the
aren. Checks m+ wlth airfields in the vicinity precluded that there

were no aircraft in the area, Check with upper air balloon tracks re-
veal that there ««* ea upper air research balloon over Peoria at the

time of sightings

Conclusion

Was ballvon.

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS;
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS,
DOD DLR 6200.10

UNCLASSIFIED

1g

FRAME 003 / 008POOR LEGIBILITY — PENDING RE-EXAMINATION

oes UEERATIONAL |My
vn 208 ERALIUNAL {iy

C 00 JEPHQ JzDUP.

.* a. a ee. | “=>
eo Www atew -
* a -
{ .
. =" °? 9 - ? a
* -
6s @tmwe ie abt! wy
( ~ : ~~ ”~er™ =m . a : 2 te dc ms | -
e+e wi weet ee iga4 I4 padearve tt wes ~—-—-
;
>
—— wT os —— _ _ a

FRAME 004 / 008POOR LEGIBILITY — PENDING RE-EXAMINATION

Pr | apse ee — . ee ee
-- Mins ee - ; : ~~ . a » _~eo - . - ape o !
aw, ts ante wt 4 was its sce eo ~~ &@ ~@ 404 @6 a @ +e F ost & '
{ |
_ ey sf \*? . "NO ~ -s6 . ~ _~- Le ~ + +7. : - = _—-e - - ~ = +
wwtw’ «so ’ sem Jtia GT b& | aw-s Oe Os, fi.é & ww. . tt dt mw oe whe wiad © ae i @ ON sik @wite ~~ v
f t —_ * ‘ om os ~~ SS ~- . ~e ~~ a -~ ee
Wied wisd wD 28894 (ot wt WWlaweste vw ay ..22tivuad Vwi WUE
Ae NS ee UNCLASSIFIED
CS asad 66 ~~ Deriasa Aveta le lee) Se ee
'
2 4 s _ ” ae a fe 7" 7 ivy . 7 He ._ —“-. * f/f — fr i . _- ©
/ . aa _ mat, PE” 4 i id Foot Wi ike 2 ae : g 6 ry | ned \ Ft Tis be
'
je =~ - on . ~~ ~*~ ; ~ -_~ -~ ~ . —--_ — ae | -—— oo -«~ - -~ 7 ee e ~~ we ~_— 7; ° “a?
: > * = 7 >< ' , ‘| ; ~ . Py
aw - ~ ; wi 4 ~~ fea ae a" he ica s Ww mata WwW as 3) 1 ao « 6 mis © ——  - ., - or
’
;
Ane= Ts A oT Tm? At 2 FAT PPR? o- "tA =F _--= - - ed A dle a ed ero? = ~- =r . eo™ oo ee
et ad de db ok J whi wf er esb i ww ttee a | 6biw se &® we te kh ut +'. ae ~ - ota 6 ’ .
a “nro ve ide | ou 7») , po 7s | [yA = @ «a “err --*? ? ~-# ~ ._ = fF Pd col .* T > 5 Riles ate we - ‘, __ - rd
a heme ‘ bissc tw wD bodes 6b ; LAG: w ae ‘ a VELA Bs as & io ~—- a ww an | sd wowed | o-- _—_ =~ Jd
ey ’ Am bs? 47 FUG S3PD OSSJECT APPEARED THE STZ2 OF A EASZUAL!
+ ese ¢ » o = ‘ ie to fe ‘ rita oe wit WY wd at a tow b sil + as o vat . —" oF nw bet ved J a mm TL os att tb he et
.
“¢A "7 Tort A wT" OV “~~ T T aero Teer Tee S CAT , on or rT vs TT A> ~ee.r a a) ‘(eo ae. | sro
~~. hd Wa&aatk 6% V ete d wee lhe airticd eee oe ee ee ek) ae + hss) & do +e wettest wow eras ic 0 V «~t/
'
> en | mT: ? _——°e rf ‘edi, edhe.) “ng -. - ity rad ed - -_-——- Iti Fe - b “ __ nd “, ** *-* ae ae _r- a ~o ™ ~ a
e Wise teks 2 J So bot’ l Keo 10 ad sad BSR elvsD .* eid . Lia w ie w 6 be : -— Si rcssvd &@ 6 a ws & oes teed
: B YY rs ; ?°s = : **. ‘oO rr. _ + a0 Tas ~ ’ — oT ~ 4 ~~ ‘re =, Cid ~ . ae De a | =~ + ~ ‘* T . > > _ =~ -eon
* w ©) as a Ww SO . covets wis wu © A wi +i\e2 wd ld) wee 6 sods 4 W-s eeie oWJ de A ais itv Feseye caw &
*- ~ -_— * 7 . ~~. ® °F ¢ “~*** 7 ~~ ~- rg mieae @26 -* ~~ -— ee Pm ) 7 a rm _- —- A = yPfFPas = *
ioe, Wo bt Oe wee Vaid ~ a ww sae V 7 : eo T te ee Wi wd the lL” 43 aes tt wh ~ i jie t Vol aa! ee ee ee
’ .
.
ty
. ;
; ; ) ‘
1
( ,
- -_~— wo « i . ~——|— —— = — — en ee © ~~ —_—— & “e+ = - i
OWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS;
So ag Be mCLAne? ER 12 YEARS.
or: SDN : OD DIR
i niwsa & YS a Ww wee D 5200.10
P —_- . sad DES 2 7 T = 0 = ,- -_~——-— = dad ee ed a os ie or ~_- Tw Pr tte 3
AIR! O27 tow — h 7. fh 4 wow 6 ~ T~ wu ww a : thane : - = > i-_- he ee WL Ten.
ee | “et oe errr arr y a meter 7? A6¢°* ae ren nT"-, a“ - -- ’ er —~: ’ - « eur > +
OSS5 2% — SOUTH e) 6 me ete TS ee | << he eet — we be — ~~ _ hd = sit @
_- lira Melia —= ~~, Is SIGHTIN Dr> ater. ane mire oe act Aner Stree as 7 r- = en
Pa @ 4 gg OR wa la > @iid ast we Esse ONNEL wv. Aetna woata@ é ee aw in WV aol a te aweo w wt
-« — . . _s TTR rar  ~ oot? = - ee — ?.,° - ~ -— — a" =— ~ © - -. - . . -
mee . - - — | an ZS dota es « . —s oh @+43 - . .
v= wee ee ——- —- - heed rT, "* os — » —_—. |. 4 ~—
4 - —_— _* e-«+* ’ .4 ait > aww a we A r

ros

we nt

‘alien aki ne ite Rate ethan 2am ~~ +-

UNCLASSIFIED

7? eae

ly

FRAME 005 / 008tesseract-200dpi

1 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER NO.

=m —______"13INT MESSAGEFORM |

SPACE ABOVE FOR COM WE Vit + ONS CENTER ONLY
FROM: (Originator) DATE-TIME GROUP
1913152 AUG 53 eo
ACTION INFORMATION
COMDR ATIC OR | ROUTINE | .
” COBDR 7915ST ACSW SQ HANNA SITY ILL C] BOOK MESSAGE [| ontcinat wessace
- ) ae a ye a CAYPTOPRECAUTIOS of"
JVC ON if [_] tuntiace avorsss io as — {] x0
= paren To wessage;
IDENTIFICATION CLASSIFICA eee
INFO? 191-17-H-02 2 spp
we ; °
: UNCLASSIF IED

Ref your message 791-17-H--'4 i'A 172343Z Aug 53. The Air Technical Intelligence Cen
requests the following inf> « »>tained and ineluded on the AF Form 112 required by
AFL 200-5: 1) Obtain azimuth and elevation readings from the observers. 2) Submit
chart of the area pinpointing locations of the observers. 3) Time of sighting is near
the sebeduled balloon rele«e sims. Cheek vith any agencies releasing balloons in the
area of sighting to determine pussibility of a weather balloon causing the sighting.
4) Cheek with local air fields and determine type end location of any aircraft in the
area at the time of sighting. 5) Did your radar pick up the widentified object?

jequest that this info be forwarded as soon as possible.
In reply cite Projest Blue Book COTE PUD AFTER 12 SEARS
te .
_ DOD DIR 5200.10

COORD NATION
‘ATIAB-5 ~~

Cet es et a ee ee el eer

Dasa. 178 Sees fe ee

Ho Pe

ai

FRAME 006 / 008POOR LEGIBILITY — PENDING RE-EXAMINATION

—— _—— Pp . 4

953 US 13 WHT OS — gash! lt

YDALI3 4 ah

YODASERILONG 627 T } 4 :
/

2V4 238

o Ts ’ eer LP 4 eal’ ny: | hah & —s. + ; o_-_ %, O. 0
~~ await 844% Wessel wae cot as Ls 188 —=*3"%

-”~ . oad a
J i =a wt - oe
-—* + . . me ** . . aor °y
Sia WM. Le $5494 fi 6QA os Whsb bh dbote
. . : ~
ae we ee Ff 8 fue wwii’ tae -
ae “7 4? ne 7, = — a
Weems wu wibsvsril fmsae i, lob s Eis “Wished
a © ro me? .
Ja0 w/CG ENT AF > Vuvbw we eh VY Vek
~~ = - “~~ ese ee * ~ -
is atnd 4 0 r/ Ce wits Treva tedds : : —
. * * ~~ “fee Se ee | Tt «te y > . = : »=@
3746S t zub a | Moe ~ Gans OF Teel. + a : de to bitin saV¥a Des s Wweew
- Bs “* “e+ Fe @e, orf ; = ~eve * » eed 2 . ’ =- - aa - ~~ : , : - . *-* bard - mo
Beh ao hg <e _—s'-« wiiw — . - en *- sw “ « al “+e & ~~" a ¢ . 1 ’ J
pee | en i '_ -—

IS/155252 AUS JEONG

/ 1

FRAME 007 / 008tesseract-200dpi

—ee wee OF 6 eee Oe eee ne oe

+

AY FCRYM LideeePART -
approved 1 June 1953
\'\,, Cu | @ ‘AS | 18

SGouvttz” Nenost, lo, ; Leave Dlank
United States ; ‘

f

AIR DMELLICSMS DS GRMATICN perc?

Subieasd ;
i tevort of Un!

Araa Demerted On = L-
Peoria, Illinois

Date o? “aport
21 August 1953

7st AC“W Squadron, Hanna City, Dllinois

_ Date of Information “Wu iuation
le August 1953 jel}

Imoctivs, creviom revert, ota., 23 annlieabdle)
Jame subject,

cise “emary of reocrt, Give <i;
paru « List incloeures at lover loft,
on AF Form 11° II.)

Reference messeze r*:+ived fron Air Technical Intelligence Center, Wricht-
Pattercon AvB, Ohio, the *sllowlng additional information is ~eadered on Rerort
of Unimown Object received by this Unit from Robert Ff, webster and ‘largaret if,
MeIlvaine on 15 August .?

in 2inal onee
Deactn text of resort

Chject was d at approximately 120 decrees (from true Jorth) from
rosition where ( was observing object. In reference to elevation

|
|

“rom observers ti estimated object was approximately 35 degrees above
the horizon, enort coinsides with info-
rmation above,

ee

FRAME 008 / 008POOR LEGIBILITY — PENDING RE-EXAMINATION

> he he ua ‘. ~~ sAeaT i . ar 7p!
Tris organization did a0” tek up any unusual tracks on tecar in
, 2

menticnede \
a RP of weath
. check was made with locsi weather station for possible relen Y of weather
_. . - Wice - Se : — : \
ballon ing informed 20 ‘raather balloas hed been released.
, - - -

i
~~
>)

—_— ee ee ee ee eet ee ete eee & eee

; ‘go aireraft wes in sama area at time of sighting. ¥ |
, >. P
AES (duc | ONS |
> ’ 9
1 Inecls WALTER J Bazrow IR_ \Y "F |
ny - 2nt Lt, VSa? “ \
nn vinepointiaz anes ’ — _
w sttan of Obesrvers Intelligence Offig® ,
OG44UL0-4 Ve Y > ’
| ee 5,
| at: eX o
{> ~
\a\ M4 L
i \ ,.

shor ECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. |
ann “s DOD DIR 620010

’

ral
—
Oe al
<n ee et te re ee ee ee eS ee

TT Le the UNL LAG
facting toe national de‘snse of Unit
50 Jod—eCemmJ3l end 32,5 as

° TS: “sis deeunent Qortaine informa ion —“t .
3 he emeing of the “spionaze 40%,
ae penal ry or the revelation of its sonten*s in any —— +9
on mautherised wearson is prohibited by law, I may not -anorduced

whole oF in part, -/ other than United Statas Air “sree acmetos, axcert b7
pornission 5? the Director of Intelligence, USA.