44-C-53 — 1953-01-27 — Tucson, Arizona (Davis-Monthan AFB area)

On 27 January 1953 at approximately 19:34 MST, S/Sgt John E. Helmer of the 63rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd Bomb Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, and his wife Dorothy Helmer observed an unidentified flying object traveling in a general southwest direction over Tucson, Arizona. The object appeared round, brilliant white, larger than the largest star, traveling at four to five times faster than a modern jet fighter aircraft at unestimated altitude. It trailed a rocket-type exhaust with luminous gases - reddish-white solid for three times the object length, then thinning into flame-colored hue spaced at short intervals like rocket exhaust. Disappeared after about one minute, traveling through about 30 degrees of arc, fading from view as if due to great distance. No propulsion or exhaust noises.

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