A Brief Background
On July 20, 1974, during a hot summer, the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) received a report from Salem, Massachusetts. The eyewitness, who identified himself only as “David,” was a Navy veteran with more than 10,000 flight hours. He said he wanted to give a precise account of what he had seen, earning praise for his credibility from the center’s director, Peter Downington.
What Happened
At 6:30 p.m. local time, with the sun nearing the horizon, David and about eight friends were standing on Boston Street in Salem. David was doing yard work: he filled a leaf blower with fuel and checked the oil, then took a drink of water. As he tilted his head back for the last sip, he spotted a large cigar-shaped object hovering at an unknown distance through the bottom of his glass.
The object had a “glow,” or haze, around it, and its color shifted from bright metallic silver to orange-red. A red-orange cloud of fire formed around it, and the object expanded as if it were stretching like rubber, nearly doubling in size before disappearing completely. According to David, it traveled from west to east at about 100 knots, an implausible speed for something so enormous. He said it was the size of two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers.
The sighting lasted about five to 10 minutes, and the witnesses felt as if “time had stopped.” After the object vanished, David went home. He considered calling the police but hesitated, worried they would not take him seriously. Instead, he searched online and filed a report with NUFORC, where it was logged and posted on the website.
Why It’s Interesting
Several aspects of the account make the event difficult to dismiss outright:
- Multiple witnesses — Nearly 10 people saw it, including a serviceman with an aviation background.
- Enormous size — The comparison with the USS Nimitz suggests an exceptionally large object.
- Changing colors and expansion — These are not features normally seen in routine aircraft flights.
- A technical account — David described the object’s speed, direction, and movement in detail.
The story reflects the complexity of unidentified-object sightings, particularly when witnesses include aviation professionals. Though the report has not been verified, it offers a coherent, detailed account that could serve as a basis for further research.
Summary
David and his friends reported seeing a cigar-shaped object that changed colors and suddenly expanded. About nine people witnessed the sighting, including experienced observers. The incident was entered into NUFORC’s database but has no additional documentation or external verification.
