50 mi S of Bismark, N.D., February 1957February 1957

Insufficient Data

Summary

On February 10, 1957, a housewife near Bismark, North Dakota, reported observing a red and green flashing light at 75 degrees azimuth. The object remained stationary for about 20 minutes, then changed bearing to approximately 40 degrees elevation. The light changed to dim white and faded out after about 30 minutes of observation. The Air Force concluded the sighting was most probably a balloon, based on the flight characteristics and description matching balloon behavior.

Reported location

50 mi S of Bismark, N.D., February 1957

Date of incident

February 1957

State / country

? / XX

Page count

2 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 27

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 2

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE
10 February 1957

2. LOCATION
50 mi S of Bismark, N.D.

3. DATE/TIME GROUP
Local
GMT 11/0451Z

4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
Ground-Visual
Ground-Radar
Air-Visual
Air-Intercept Radar

5. SOURCE
Housewife

6. NUMBER OF OBJECTS
one

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION
30 minutes

8. COURSE
NE

9. [CONCLUSIONS]
Was Balloon
Probably Balloon
Possibly Balloon
Was Aircraft
Probably Aircraft
Possibly Aircraft
Was Astronomical
Probably Astronomical
Possibly Astronomical
Other
Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING
Red and green flashing light observed at 75 dgr azimuth, 20 min later still at same bearing but had advanced about 40 dgr, at elevation. Changed to dim white and faded out.

11. COMMENTS
Star chart and almanacs disclose that ARCTURUS a very bright star was at the approximate bearings and elevations given. Increase in elevation of 45dgr is not probable, sighting most probably balloon since flight and description conform with this analysis

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28968928