Las Vegas, Nev., November 1957November 1957

On November 27, 1957, at around 2:30 a.m., a resident of Baywood Park near Las Vegas, Nevada, reported seeing a bright flying object. The witness described it as round and yellow-orange, roughly the size of a half-dollar coin (about the size of a silver dollar, according to one account). The object appeared in the western sky from his home and moved on a straight path that angled slightly downward. The sighting lasted only five to seven seconds before the object vanished over Spring Mountain.

The witness was a mature, credible observer who had previously worked at Nellis Air Force Base and was employed as an electronics technician in the area. Both he and his wife watched the object. His wife noticed a slight glow around it after it passed overhead. The witness provided detailed information about the sighting's location, timing, and the object's apparent size and brightness. He estimated the object was at an altitude of roughly 2,150 feet and appeared to be moving at considerable speed, comparable to a falling star or meteor.

The Air Force officer who interviewed the witness reported the sighting immediately and noted his intention to conduct a follow-up visit to have the witness pinpoint the exact location of the sighting. The investigator assessed the witness as straightforward and reliable in answering questions. Weather conditions at the time were clear, with light winds and no cloud cover in the observation area, which would have provided excellent viewing conditions.

The Air Force's evaluation recorded this case as "unknown," meaning the object could not be identified as any known aircraft, balloon, or astronomical phenomenon based on the available evidence. This full case file of 7 pages is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.