DOW-UAP-D178, Unresolved UAP Report, Catalina Island, 1953
- Date
- Nov. 16, 1953
- Location
- Over Catalina Island, observed from San Pedro, California
- Agency
- Department of War
- Release
- Release 07 (Oct. 23, 2026)
- Type
- document
Summary
A teletype report describes one round, saucer-shaped object about the size of a pea, purplish-white then fading to white, that appeared stationary over Catalina and then moved northwest toward Los Angeles in straight, level flight over about ten minutes; the observer was an Air Force T/Sgt in San Pedro. The report notes that Griffith Park Observatory astronomers said such objects are possibly planets that appear more clearly after rainfall. The Air Force record card's conclusion is "Astronomical (JUPITER)," noting Jupiter at about 45° elevation in the west.
Note
Not an unexplained case on the Air Force's own card, which attributes it to Jupiter.