Elburn, Ill, August 1959August 1959

Insufficient Data

Summary

On an August night in 1959 in Elburn, Illinois, a witness reported seeing a string of three or four white lights in the sky. Before they vanished, the lights appeared to form into a cone shape. The observer estimated the objects were about the size of a pea held at arm's length.

The sighting lasted between two and five seconds. The witness was outdoors in open countryside and was fairly certain about the duration of the sighting. The sky was clear at the time, with stars visible but no moonlight. The witness could not estimate the object's speed or distance from their location.

The Air Force's evaluation form noted that information in the case was very limited, which prevented a valid conclusion about what the objects were. The file does not record a final determination of whether the sighting was a balloon, aircraft, astronomical event, or something else entirely.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 8 pages.

Reported location

Elburn, Ill, August 1959

Date of incident

August 1959

State / country

? / XX

Page count

8 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 36

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 8

View transcribed text

EE EEE if B
: PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD : ;
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
0 Was Balloon
/i%4 Aug 59 Eilburn, LLL 0 Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possibly Balloon
g O Wos Aircraft
Local fm 0 0 Ground- Visual 0 Ground-Radar OQ Probably Aircraft
CMTE, 02307 B-Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar 0 Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS - SOURCE O Was Astronomical
O Yes HE 2 O Probably Astronomical
E30 Civilian Pilot O Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE Or 2Otherit isis Sele voll 0
[wold racient Data for Evaluation
| i o
Bk Haak 3 0r & not given How
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING : 11. COMMENTS
Objs appeared as a string of three or Info is very limited, precluding a
J four white lights. Prior to disappearing, a valid conclusion.
they seembd to form into cone obj. They
appeared the size of a pea at arh*$ length.
|
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SRP 52)
: 3 Fl :
1]
\

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28984248