GATE CITY, VIRGINIAJanuary 1954

Unidentified

Summary

On January 7, 1954, at about 8:30 p.m. local time near Gate City, Virginia, two civilians reported one object. It was on a straight course to the north northwest at a slow speed. The duration was not reported.

The object was tubular with yellow and red flames coming from both ends. A whirring noise and the light of the flames were noted. Its altitude was estimated at about 10,000 feet. The sky was clear with 12 miles visibility and calm surface winds.

The Air Force record lists the conclusion as insufficient data for evaluation. It noted the object could be a possible aircraft or a possible meteor, but no evaluation could be made without the duration. A B-36 aircraft was reported by an intelligence service in the area heading roughly north a short time later.

Reported location

GATE CITY, VIRGINIA

Date of incident

January 1954

State / country

VA / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 20

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

: : PRCJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
\. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS ;
0 Wos Balloon
7 Jan 54 GATE CITY, VIRGINIA : O Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TINE GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 1" Teeny Seven
O Woes Aircrof
| a  ——— AX Genund- Vi sual O Ground-Radar O Probably Aiveraht
sur 03/01302 |G Ain Vise! O Air-Intercopt Rader |O Possibly Aircraft
HOT O! ak 0 Was Astronomical
O Probably Astronomical t
7 civilian O Possibly Astrenemicol i
{7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION |. NUMBER OF © $ | 9. COURSE THR ERR.
hot reported + it traight NNW qu wr Data for Evaluation |
10. BRIEF SUMMARY DF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS :
bular obj with yellow and red flames from Possible a/c, possible meteor. No evaluation
poth ends. On straight cours: to NNW at without duration. Insufficient data.
slow speed. Estimated altitude 10,000 ft.
bp Civilian Observers.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 82)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28957292