Meridian, Miss., August 1952August 1952

On the night of August 27, 1952, two Air Force pilots flying an F-51 fighter plane near Meridian, Mississippi spotted an unusual pale green light moving through the sky. Both men were experienced aviators on a training flight at 7,000 feet, cruising at 200 miles per hour. At 8:15 p.m., they noticed the light heading west at approximately 10,000 feet, roughly 2,000 to 3,000 feet above their aircraft.

The pilots described the object as resembling an airplane's navigation light, but it behaved unlike any aircraft they had seen. It traveled at tremendous speed with no visible engine, no exhaust trail, and no sound. The light remained visible for only five to ten seconds before it suddenly turned toward the north and accelerated rapidly out of sight. One of the pilots noted it moved too quickly to be any conventional aircraft they knew.

The pilots ruled out other explanations for what they saw. Several other F-51 training planes were in the area that night, but they reported these were easily distinguished from the mystery object. The weather that evening was slightly hazy with unlimited ceiling and winds from the east at 15 miles per hour. The Air Force investigators noted that nothing in the meteorological conditions or known aircraft activity could account for the sighting. No photographs or physical evidence was obtained, and no attempt was made to intercept the object.

The two officers were evaluated as reliable witnesses of sound judgment and stable emotions. However, the Air Force's final conclusion, as documented in the case file, listed the sighting as "Unknown." The full case file, held by the National Archives, is reproduced below in 8 pages.