Elmira, New York hoax flying saucer
Document coverPage 1 of 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_5 · View original on war.gov
A corrugated cardboard box painted aluminum with a Crosley radio tube and red flare attached was reported as a landed flying saucer near Elmira, New York Airport. Investigators determined the object was too fragile to withstand flight and had no witnesses to any actual flight.
“FLYING SAUCER COMPLAINT. INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM ELMIRA PD. THAT FLYING SAUCER HAD LANDED NEAR ELMIRA, NY AIRPORT, RESIDENT AGENT AT ELMIRA ADVISES "FLYING SAUCER" WAS CORRUGATED CARDBOARD BOX, FORTY INS. IN DIAMETER, ONE FOOT THICK AT CENTER. ENTIRE BOX PAINTED ALUMINUM, CROSLEY RADIO TUBE ATTACHED TO CENTER OF BOX WITH LOOSE WIRES HANGING FROM EACH SIDE OF TUBE, TRUCKER-S RED FLARE CONNECTED TO BOTTOM OF BOX, WHICH FLARE HAD SCORCHED GRASS AREA BENEATH BOX.”
Verbatim from 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_5 · View original on war.gov
Case details
- Date
- 1950-04-08
- Precision
- day
- Location
- Near Elmira, New York Airport
- Country
- United States
- Region
- New York
- Branch
- FBI
- Unit
- Elmira Police Department
- Sensors
- eyewitness
- Size
- 40 inches in diameter, 1 foot thick at center
Resolution
Identified as a hoax constructed from a corrugated cardboard box, aluminum paint, a Crosley radio tube, loose wires, and a trucker's red flare. No witnesses to actual flight; object too fragile to withstand flight.
Source document
Agency: FBI
File: 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894_Section_5
Case ID: UNDATED-FBI-6BB9
View original on war.gov →Extracted via LLM. Verbatim excerpt validated.