Bernalillo, New MexicoJuly 1956

Insufficient Data

Summary

On July 26, 1956, a civilian near Bernalillo, New Mexico, reported a single object in the sky. The sighting began at 0900 (9:00 a.m.) local time and was made from the ground.

The witness described one large object about the size of a ball three feet across held at arm's length. It looked almost round with rays going outward. The color was bright orange like fire. It was brighter than a headlight seen from several yards away. The object seemed to rise and move slowly upward, dimming as it went. It made no sound.

The object was watched for about three hours, both with the naked eye and through 7 by 50 binoculars. It had not disappeared when the witness went to sleep.

The Air Force noted that the reporting officer thought the sighting was an optical illusion. Headquarters did not agree. Because of the long duration, the slow movement, the color and shape, and a likely temperature inversion in the area, the Air Force concluded the sighting was probably the planet Venus.

Reported location

Bernalillo, New Mexico

Date of incident

July 1956

State / country

NM / US

Page count

1 scanned page

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 25

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 1

View transcribed text

i a er Br LL 1a tact i Ufo UGA IOUT WI £1 ot 3 - "
’
[4
a —————————————————————— ays
1. DATE 2. LCCATION | 12 CONCLUSIONS
26 Jul 1956 Bernalillo, llew Mexico O Was Balloon
- ¢ 0 Probably Balloon
] n :
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possibly Balloon
Yh Vi o i O Was Aircraft
26/09007 Jul 56 X Ground-Visuel Orovag:Reder ( Probatay Aizsiath
f DO Possibly Ai fr
O Air Visual O Air-Intercept Radar REREINY IND
5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE D Was Astronomical Vers
O Yes a ald XK Probably Astronomical
8 No Civilian 0 Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE CRE) 3 STR AK NSN
j Rose slowly in Ee] Insufficient Dota for Evaluation
Aprrox, three (3) hours Cne (1) sky. 1 Unknown
CT a BE IRR RS RR Col TRC I SAL. [Stn CHR TARE I Ee A SC SC
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING i COMMENTS
TE | y » on Lh PP, Be | -- ._ 4 - .
Cne (1) larze object about size of a "ball Report received from D/I, 3th Air
three feet in diameter held at arm's length, | Div (Def), KAFS, lew !lexico via AF
Snape was "almost round with rays going cut- | form 112, This Headquarters does not
Re? | Shes ~~ Fp GN 3: . - ~ re 5
ward", Color was bright orange likes fire, Cbjgcvtconcur with Reporting Officer who
was brighter than the brightness of an  toropile Z2lieved sighting to be an optical |
| headlight at several ards, appearad to be shits iliusion. Cpinion of this Has, is
and moved slowly upward dimming with distance that sighting was Caused bry Planet
Chiect made no sound, Cbject observed for | ’enus, Duration of sighting, movement
annroximatel:r three hours visually and throug! of object, color , shape, and probabill-
bincovlars(7 x 50). Cbject did not disappear | ity of temperature inversion in area
and conld i = geen by source upo: £C ing 1.0 ail! SUpPpPoxXT this conclusion. uniortunk- 2
sleep, ately source was unable to supply Jedi
Lah j cvation and azimubh, Fhorefore, | |
: valuation is "probably Tenus"
AISOP Form 5 (15 Oct 54) : SVE Luar J ’ |
EE EE + nde

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28966406