Bandera, TexasJune 1956

On the evening of June 18, 1956, a witness in Bandera, Texas saw several glowing objects in the sky. The witness was indoors looking out a window when the first object appeared. Over the next 25 minutes, the witness observed seven objects total, though not all at once. The objects were initially mistaken for meteors because they glowed like balls of fire. However, the witness changed this assessment when the objects appeared to move into formation, a behavior inconsistent with meteors. The objects disappeared behind a hill and reappeared performing what seemed like aeronautic maneuvers at estimated speeds between 2,000 and 3,000 miles per hour. Eventually they rose very high and left the witness's field of view.

The Air Force investigated the sighting through its Air Defense Command network. Personnel from the 741st Air Control and Warning Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base filed the initial report. An intelligence officer from the 4602nd Air Intelligence Service Squadron at Ent Air Force Base reviewed weather data from the region at the time of the sighting. Conditions included scattered clouds at lower and middle altitudes, thicker cloud cover at 30,000 feet, and visibility of about 15 miles. The intelligence officer concluded that the sighting was possibly caused by searchlights in the San Antonio, Texas area, roughly 35 miles southeast of Bandera. The officer noted that the objects appeared to be low and positioned to the southeast of the witness, and that the colors, speeds, and rotating motion of the lights would be consistent with searchlight activity. No further action was recommended.

The Air Force ultimately classified this case as unidentified in its official record. The complete case file, totaling 13 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.