Levittown, L.I. New York, November 1957November 1957

Insufficient Data

Summary

On the evening of November 21, 1957, residents of the New York and New Jersey area saw a bright object streak across the sky. In Levittown, Long Island, a witness on the ground observed a streak of light followed by a blue-green flash. Nearly at the same time, people in Haddenfield, New Jersey, saw what looked like a small red explosive burst with sparks. The sightings happened between 7:40 and 7:45 p.m. local time.

The object appeared and disappeared within seconds. One witness reported hearing a sound like an explosion, though another observer indoors could not hear any noise. The weather that night was clear, with moderate winds at various altitudes.

The Air Force investigated by contacting nearby airports and filter centers. Newark Airport and the Trenton Filter Center reported no aircraft sightings in the area at that time. However, the Civil Service Institute in New York said the object had also been seen over New York City. A Brown University astronomer stated that a meteor of intense brightness had streaked across the southern sky that evening.

The Air Force concluded the sighting was probably a meteor, a theory supported by the object's appearance as a bright streak followed by a flash and its brief duration. The case file notes that limited information was available for evaluation. This seven-page case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Levittown, L.I. New York, November 1957

Date of incident

November 1957

State / country

? / XX

Page count

7 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 31

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 7

View transcribed text

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ee PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD :
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1. DATE 2. LOCATION ; 12. CONCLUSIONS
: : fn do nEBevat town sy Lol. New York |g wos Belloon ;
21 November 1957 2, Haddenfield, New Jersey DO Probably Bolloen
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION £0 (nessiEly Ba eh
Local DY PEAT XX Ground- Vi svol O Ground-Rodor g Beane
GMT 2/00407% 2 2/0046 7 0 Air Vi sual D Air-Intercept Rador D Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS . SOURCE (u] Nas fenemicel jig t 2or
QYes O Probobly Astronomico :
SDiNe Civilian BX Possibly Astronomical
i LA ctl A
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE Bo Oyhep ei
1. few seconds 0 Hihdscient Dota for Evaluation
2. not given co QYE@ 1 not given :
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
1. Streak of light, then a flash of This is characteristic and color
blue-green Dr Eblaan tt kioht, of a meteor, (limited information
2, Explosive small red burst with given)
sound of explosion.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
R ’
fi JRE a Seer Hl SL i GR Sd La en BUidli TORE A Shi a y g :

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28975065