600 Mi W of Los Angeles, Calif. Pacific, January 1958January 1958

Two separate sightings occurred in January 1958 involving U.S. military aircraft and personnel over the Pacific Ocean and other locations. The Air Force investigated both incidents as part of Project Blue Book.

On January 14, 1958, a B-47 bomber crew flying west from Hawaii reported sighting an unusual object about 600 miles west of Los Angeles. The sighting lasted roughly 20 to 30 seconds. One crew member described a round object about the size of a pinhead, with a reddish-white flame. Another observer reported a light glowing yellow in color, roughly the size of a pea, with what appeared to be a tail approximately 10 to 15 times longer than the object itself. The object eventually faded into the atmosphere. The Air Force's comments on the file suggest the description and maneuvers observed were consistent with a meteor. The official evaluation was "unknown."

Also on January 14, 1958, a U.S. Navy patrol bomber flying near Kodiak Naval Base in Alaska detected three objects on radar in a triangular formation holding steady while traveling at approximately 320 knots (about 368 miles per hour). One crew member reported seeing a vapor trail. The objects remained in formation and then disappeared from the radar scope. Investigators checked with civilian and military air traffic agencies but found no record of known aircraft in the area at that time. The Air Force prepared officers concluded the objects were possibly aircraft, but investigative efforts failed to identify which ones. The official evaluation was "unknown."

The complete case files are reproduced below as held by the National Archives, totaling 24 pages.