Donaldson AFB, South CarolinaAugust 1959

Insufficient Data

Summary

On August 17, 1959, at Donaldson Air Force Base in South Carolina, a ball or streak of fire was observed for 10 seconds at 8:32 p.m. The object exploded and faded out. Before the explosion, the object had level flight in a 90-degree turn until it exploded. A slight trail of fire appeared before the explosion. After the explosion, the object arched toward the ground. Tower personnel and a civilian near Donaldson reported the sighting. The object traveled southwest to northeast at approximately 2,500 feet above ground level before exploding and gradually disappearing. Tower personnel believed the object could possibly have been a meteorite, though it was much brighter and the explosion was more intense than a typical meteorite. The Air Force evaluation was listed as unknown.

Reported location

Donaldson AFB, South Carolina

Date of incident

August 1959

State / country

SC / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 36

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE: 17 Aug 59
2. LOCATION: Donaldson AFB, South Carolina
3. DATE-TIME GROUP: Local [illegible] GMT 17/0502Z
4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Ground-Visual
5. PHOTOS: No
6. SOURCE: Civilian
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION: 15 secs
8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS: 1 exploding
9. COURSE: NE

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING:
Ball or streak of fire observed for 10 sec at which time it exploded and faded out. Obj had level flight fm 30 to the NE until it exploded. Slight trail of fire prior to the explosion. After explosion obj arched toward ground.

11. COMMENTS:
Characteristics of bolide observed to explode present. Case listed as a meteor sighting.

12. CONCLUSIONS:
Was Balloon
Probably Balloon
Possibly Balloon
Was Aircraft
Probably Aircraft
Possibly Aircraft
Was Astronomical Meteor
Probably Astronomical Meteor
Possibly Astronomical Meteor
Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28984186