Bethesda, MarylandJuly 1954

Insufficient Data

Summary

On July 20, 1954, a civilian in Bethesda, Maryland reported observing a single object at 11:03 p.m. local time. The object appeared star-like and hovered while moving slowly at a 30-degree elevation in the south, moving in the same general area with erratic motion. The sighting lasted 22 minutes with the object remaining in sight. The object was compared in size to Mars. Comments noted the object was at 200-degree azimuth and 25-degree elevation, with motion attributed to atmospheric conditions. The investigation concluded the sighting was possibly occasioned by a weather balloon release from a local weather station.

Reported location

Bethesda, Maryland

Date of incident

July 1954

State / country

MD / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 21

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE | 2. LOCATION | 12. CONCLUSIONS
20 July 1954 | Bethesda, Maryland | [X] Was Balloon
 | | [ ] Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION | [ ] Possibly Balloon
Local | [X] Ground-Visual | [ ] Was Aircraft
GMT 21/0310(H) | [ ] Air-Visual | [ ] Probably Aircraft
 | [ ] Ground-Radar | [ ] Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS | [ ] Air-Intercept Radar | [ ] Was Astronomical MARS
[ ] Yes | 6. SOURCE | [X] Probably Astronomical
[X] No | Civilian | [ ] Possibly Astronomical
 | | [X] Other
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE | [ ] Insufficient Data for Evaluation
22 Minutes & Still in sight | 1 | Stationary in | [ ] Unknown
 | | South |
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING | 11. COMMENTS
Star like, hovered, moved slowly, 30 deg | Mars at 200 deg azimuth, 25 degrees
elevation in south moving in same general | elevation. Motion attributed to
area. Motion erratic. Size of Mars. | atmospheric conditions.

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28959173