Bakersfield, CaliforniaAugust 1957

Insufficient Data

Summary

This file concerns a sighting reported by a civilian near Bakersfield, California in mid August 1957. The witness first wrote to the Department of the Army, which referred the letter to the Air Force for review.

The file mainly contains the Air Force's reply letter and forwarding correspondence rather than a detailed sighting card. The reply states that a careful study of the report indicated the witness observed a seldom seen form of meteorite, generally called a bolide or firebll. It explains that between the 9th and 13th of August the earth crossed a meteor swarm called the Perseids, during which many meteors and fireballs are seen.

The Air Force record (Project 10073, its official file for unidentified flying object reports) lists the case as astronomical, with the objects identified as meteors. No separate sighting report was on file.

Reported location

Bakersfield, California

Date of incident

August 1957

State / country

CA / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 28

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

V
i
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f PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE ; 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
: ~ y A PEL a ia Le NLR g 0 Was Balloon
9 13 August 195 Bakersfield, California 0  Probobly Ballosn
; 3. DATE-TINE GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possibly Balloon
f 0 Was Aircroft
i ET a rn RN Nee er {1 Ground- Visual DO Ground-Radar O Probably Aircraft
BMY ta 0 Ais Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS I'8. SOURCE Bx Vay Astronemicd Mat oor
i QO Yos | U0 Probably Astronomical
E a No fMivilian 0 Possibly Astronomical
i 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE A TE I
B { O Insufficient Data for Evaluation
E! | 0 Unknown |
4 — . " | - ! i
. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING : 3 111. COMMENTS
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{ |
Letter requesting information regard- Persieds or s v uring
i in: sighting obiects that were believed the reriod o SEES 1gust, |
: : ) 12teors,
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1]
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No report i file {
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ATIC FOIM 129 (REV 26 SEP 52)
5

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28971117