1958 Detroit UFO Sighting, crystal-type dome that reflected lights
According to the releasing agency, this declassified FBI office memorandum, dated April 17, 1958, was authored by Special Agent Robert Reynolds of the Detroit field office. It records a telephone call received at 4:08 p.m. that day from a Detroit man (age 23, son of a Detroit policeman, with prior Civil Air Patrol experience) who reported having just seen an object in the sky described as a 'circular object with a crystal-type dome that reflected light.' The witness stated the object passed in a northern direction from the southwest, crossing the city three blocks south of Six Mile at Lamphere Street. He said he attempted to contact Selfridge Field to reach the Air Force but was unsuccessful, and then called the FBI office. The memo carries the recommendation to 'Advise proper air force authorities.' The FBI classified the witness as not too familiar with aircraft identification. The document was posted by the U.S. Department of War in a UAP records release.
Focus
Archive-highlighted excerpt · page 1 · Jul 6, 2026
Description
A 1958 FBI office memorandum from the Detroit field office documenting a citizen's telephoned report of an unidentified circular object with a 'crystal-type dome' seen over Detroit, Michigan. The memo notes the witness's background and recommends forwarding the information to Air Force authorities. Released by the U.S. Department of War (via FBI records) as part of a UAP records release.
Claims
A Detroit man telephoned the FBI at 4:08 p.m. on April 17, 1958 to report a circular object with a crystal-type dome that reflected light, passing northward over the city.
75%The witness attempted to contact Selfridge Field to reach the Air Force but was unsuccessful.
70%The witness was 23 years old, the son of a Detroit policeman, and had prior Civil Air Patrol experience but was not familiar with aircraft identification.
70%The memo recommended advising proper air force authorities.
85%
Events
Apr 16, 1958
Detroit UFO sighting
A witness reported seeing a circular object with a crystal-type dome passing over Detroit at approximately 4:08 p.m.
Apr 16, 1958
FBI memorandum authored
Special Agent Robert Reynolds documented the telephoned sighting report.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Phenomena
Extracted text (OCR)
.Office Memorandum • uNITED sTATEs aovERNMENT TO SA C, ":>ETROIT FROM SA RC>B.J::RT "'10S DATE : April 17 , 19~8 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 to p,et in touch with the Air ~orce b ut hi ~ at t empts were unp roiuct i ve . He t he n called the off ice t o f urn t s h t he a bo ve information . 1 ~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 dentification 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 ..
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