Ellington AFB, TexasAugust 1951

On the night of August 26, 1951, at Ellington Air Force Base near Houston, Texas, three military witnesses reported seeing bright yellow lights in the sky. The sightings occurred at different times during the early morning hours, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour.

The first report came around 2:18 a.m. (0218 local time). A witness described a bright yellow light, as bright as the brightest star, moving northward and rising higher into the sky. The object was visible for about three to four minutes before it disappeared by climbing out of sight. The witness estimated the object reached an altitude of approximately 25,000 feet.

A second sighting occurred around 3:00 a.m., when additional airmen observed an erratic yellow light moving slowly across the sky. This object was watched for more than an hour. According to the detailed account, the light traced a rough triangular path, moving from one spot near a group of three stars to another position, then stopping and remaining motionless for periods of time before suddenly resuming movement. The witnesses heard no sound from the object. When asked about its distance, one observer noted that if it were a small light, it might have been several hundred feet away, but if larger, it could have been several thousand feet distant.

The Air Force investigated by interviewing the witnesses, checking for other observers, and verifying whether radar had detected anything unusual. Investigators found no other witnesses, no radar contacts during the times of the sightings, and no reports from local astronomers. One status report noted that the erratic yellow light was "very probably a weather balloon." Another Air Force evaluation concluded there was insufficient data for a firm determination, though it suggested the object might have been a balloon or a bright star.

The full case file, comprising 15 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.