This is an FBI office memo from April 1958 in which a Detroit resident reported seeing an unidentified object in the sky. The man described it as circular with a crystal-type dome that reflected light, moving from southwest to north across the city. The FBI agent who took the report recommended notifying Air Force authorities.
What did the person see?
A Detroit man called the FBI office to report observing a circular object with a crystal-type dome that reflected light. He said the object was moving in a northern direction, passing from southwest across the city three blocks south of Six Mile at Lamphere Street.
Who made the report?
The caller was 23 years old and the son of a Detroit policeman. He had previous experience with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), though the FBI agent noted he was not too familiar with aircraft identification. He observed the object while on his way home from work in Detroit.
What did the witness try to do?
The witness attempted to contact Selfridge Field to reach the Air Force but was unsuccessful. He then called the FBI office to report what he had seen.
What was the FBI's response?
The FBI agent who received the report recommended that proper Air Force authorities be advised of the sighting.
Full Document Text
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.Office Memorandum • uNITED sTATEs aovERNMENT
TO SA C, ":>ETROIT DATE : April 17 , 19~8
FROM SA RC>B.J::RT "'10S R~YNOLDS
SUBJECT :
~...-__.,__....,.~ 1 ~801 -~co~ta , Detroit , Michi g an, r ele p hone
No . - 7546, telephonically a dvise ri t h i~ off ice at h : 08 . . ,..,. .,
to d ay , that e ba a jugt s e en an ob j e ct in the ~ky 1 escri hed a~ a
circular ob j e ct with a crystal- type 0ome t hat reflect e d lig ht! .
He ~aid this o b ject wa! pas~ing in a northern d irection from
southwest and cros s e d t he City three block~ s outh of Six Mi l e
at Lamphere Street .
ri/EAVER a dvised that he att err1p ted to call Selfridg e Fie l d
1
to p,et in touch with the Air ~orce b ut hi ~ at t empts were un
p roiuct i ve . He t he n called the off ice t o f urn t s h t he a bo ve
information .
~EAVER sat i he wa~ ?3 years of a g e , wa~ t he ~on of a De tr o i t
policeman , and that he had previous exp erience wtth t he Civil , ir
Patro l ( CAP) ; however , he wa~ not too familiar with the l denti
fication o f aircraft . 1EAV~R s t ated he was on hi~ way home from
his employment in ,)e troit when he ohcerve d i netant object .
Adv l se p roper air fo rc e ,i authorities .
RRR/ mac
(1 )
)
IERIAUZfD.... ....1 II.ID... ....... ..
APRl 71958
FBI • DETROIT
NW 90288
Docld:34715588 Page 1 View the official fileFrequently Asked Questions
What did the object look like?
The witness described it as a circular object with a crystal-type dome that reflected light. He observed it moving in a northern direction from southwest, crossing the city three blocks south of Six Mile at Lamphere Street.
Who reported the sighting?
A 23-year-old Detroit man who was the son of a Detroit policeman reported the sighting. He had previous experience with the Civil Air Patrol but was not considered too familiar with aircraft identification.
When did this sighting occur?
The sighting was reported to the FBI on April 17, 1958. The witness observed the object while on his way home from his employment in Detroit.
What action did the FBI take?
The FBI agent who received the report recommended that proper Air Force authorities be advised of the sighting.
Congressional Context
No confirmed links between this file and the congressional record yet. Connections are added only when the source text supports them, never inferred.