Edwards AFB, (Muroc), Calif., November 1954November 1954

Insufficient Data

Summary

On November 23, 1954, at around 0135 hours (1:35 a.m.), Major Robert L. Stephens of the Air Force Systems Development Corporation observed four loosely spaced, brightly lit objects near Edwards Air Force Base (then known as Muroc) in California. The objects appeared to be slightly brighter than the surrounding stars and seemed to blink at intervals.

According to the available documentation, the sighting occurred near the end of Muroc Dry Lake and the control tower at Edwards. Major Stephens estimated the objects were about 15 miles distant, though some uncertainty exists about the exact distance. They appeared at an altitude of roughly 7,000 feet, heading in a direction of approximately 50 degrees in a well-spaced formation. The objects exhibited characteristics consistent with aircraft, moving together in what observers described as level flight.

During the investigation that followed, the Air Force determined the sighting was likely the result of aircraft refueling operations. The objects' behavior, their formation, and their light signatures were consistent with a jet aircraft in formation during a fueling maneuver near the base.

The Air Force concluded that the case was best explained as unidentified aircraft involved in routine refueling operations. While the initial observation raised questions, further examination provided a conventional explanation for what Major Stephens and others observed that night.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives across 21 pages.

Reported location

Edwards AFB, (Muroc), Calif., November 1954

Date of incident

November 1954

State / country

? / XX

Page count

21 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 22

EE ——————————————————— ew TF SER gl F fs: i » il UFCB INDEX CARD & EN GHC CSL LC PS s00 ins SE BE Ee. 3 | 1. DATE | LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS - BE | 2 $ eae " 0 'Wos Balloon § |.22 November 195) | Edwards AFB, (tfuroc), Calif, E Probably Balieon : | 3. DATE-TIME GROUP | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION & Potsey eg i [ 5 XX Was Aircraft | feast } ERTY ER a Se SEA | B® Ground-Vi sual O Ground-Rador OQ Probebly Aircraf i GMT 23 /0135Z Nov 5) & Air Visual O Air-intercept Radar O Possibly Aircroft | 5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE 0 Wes Astronomical § 0 Yes | 0 Probably Astronomical : : a No Military is Possibly Astronomical ; { 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE CEE A CE Q Insufficient Dato for Evaluction 3 Bu | of : o |©@ Unknown g | Tour (Lh) Minutes Four (1) Heading of 5C : io. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS ; | Four (Lh), loosely spaced lights, which appearefi Investigation revsaled the objects . EN \ 1 el! . a £3 i+ A CJ g | ‘0 blink at times and were définitely brighter to be a/c KeFuelinG 6 FeRAT ion | than stars : | wi | | | AISOP Form 5 (15 Oct 54) iE / v 3 g : ~ / ‘ . > .