Case File — Key West, Florida, August 1953

Key highlights

• A naval student observed a bright object over Key West.p.2

  “Seaman Apprentice Charles B. De Forrest, a student at Fleet Sonar School, United States Naval Base, Key West, Florida, observed an aerial object.”

• The object was described as star-like and very bright.p.2

  “The object appeared to be about the size of a pin point on a star, was very brilliant white in color.”

• Weather conditions included a broken overcast sky.p.3

  “Weather Observer reported a 'broken overcast' which cleared up sufficiently to leave about 9/10 of the sky clear.”

• The report concludes the object was likely a searchlight.p.6

  “Conclusion: Other - Probably searchlight on aircraft.”

• A diagram illustrates the object's flight path.p.5

Outliers

• The observer was skeptical and checked his sighting against known data.p.2

  “The observer appeared to have been skeptical of his own sighting and checked it against whatever known data were available.”