Coleville, WashingtonJanuary 1959

Insufficient Data

Summary

On the evening of January 19, 1959, two separate sightings occurred near Coleville, Washington. The first happened at 2030 (8:30 p.m.) when a farmer saw a cigar-shaped object about 15 feet long. The object was red with a light exhaust that sprayed outward. The farmer watched it descend and disappear behind a hill. The second sighting took place about 12 seconds later, roughly 12 miles away near Rice, Washington. A second observer saw a large white ball-shaped object with a red trailing tail. It looked like a ball of fire, the observer said, and it moved in a straight, level flight path before vanishing at the horizon.

Both sightings occurred on a clear night with good weather conditions. The Air Force noted that the two reports from the same general area at the same time were significant. The case file indicates that the witnesses were reliable. The district sheriff vouched for both observers, describing them as trustworthy and noting that neither drank alcohol.

The Air Force investigated the sightings and considered what the objects might have been. The case file states that "characteristics of a meteor" were evident in the first report, and a comment on the form strongly suggests the object was a meteor. The file evaluation options list "Probably Balloon" and "Probably Meteor" as possibilities, though the final conclusion marked on the form is unclear in the available scan.

This case file, comprising 7 pages as held by the National Archives microfilm T1206, Roll 35, is reproduced below in full.

Reported location

Coleville, Washington

Date of incident

January 1959

State / country

WA / US

Page count

7 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 35

g bial i LAE TEE BES RT ORPHENN NPR re a » - : ; PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD pte pe, LC 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS Coleviile, Washington O Wes Balloon 19 Jan 59 Rice, Washington O Probably Balloon 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION VET. Wa loeod | XXGround-Visuel O Ground-Radar 8 Prebeily Rovere eMT_20/03052 20/0300% 0 Air Visvol O Air-Intercept Radar | Possibly Aircraft S. I O Was Astronomical O Yes O Probably Astronomical -B-Ne 13247407 DX Possibly Astrenemical [loco 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE CE A O Insufficient Data for Evaluation O Unknown 10 secs one not given 0. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS i 1) Cigar shaped obj, approx 15 ft long. Obj has characteristics of a meted 1 Red with light exhause in form of spray. Another rpt from same area, amme tine) Disappeared behind hill on descent. strongly indicates obj was a meteor. 2) Large ball shaped obj, white trailing red, Looked like a ball of fire, Had flight path that was straight and leve. ATIC PORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2) : / : [| | . A Ba iis san MSE adhe a ia