USAF pilot First Lieutenant Robert S. Hipkins and alert center operator Staff Sergeant Raymond C. Henry, both 47th Fighter Interceptor Squadron on the ground, saw a circular brilliant white object with smaller 6? pale green lights on its perimeter move slowly at constant altitude at first then make fast pivoting turns, maneuvering radically southeast to northeast (from azimuth 150° elevation 45° to azimuth 75° elevation 65°), disappearing in a rapid steep climb. Radar tracked for 3 minutes by CPS-6 ground ADC site.

One green ball was observed in clear weather by two military witnesses and radar at an airport for eight minutes.

Condon Report: 321-B. Niagara Falls, N. Y., 25 July 1957, 0025 LST. Weather: clear, excellent visibility. Observers saw a "circular brilliant white object with pale green smaller lights around its perimeter." Object appeared to move slowly at nearly constant altitude, and then went into a "fast, steep climb," disappearing in about 5-8 min. The object was tracked on a CPS-6B radar for about 3 min. moving from SW to NE, in agreement with prevailing winds in the area.

The rate of climb could not have been very great, or the object would not have remained in sight for "five to eight" minutes. The official AF view is that the object was a lighted balloon, and in the absence of other data or a more complete file on the case, there seems to be no more likely explanation.

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