Nunica, MichiganMay 1958

Unidentified

Summary

On May 28, 1958, a civilian observer in Nunica, Michigan reported seeing a white streak of light low on the horizon. The observer also noted a sound like escaping air and an odor similar to auto exhaust gas at the same time as the sighting. According to the case file, similar objects were observed on succeeding nights, on May 29th and 30th, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

The Air Force investigators acknowledged that the data available was quite thin. The official record card noted "insufficient data for evaluation" as the conclusion, though investigators mentioned the sighting might possibly have been meteors. However, a separate memo from Air Force intelligence officers suggested the radar signature from related reports, when analyzed, showed characteristics "in accord with what would be expected of a balloon." The report stated that "the data furnished is too meager to allow for a firm estimate," but the general performance and speeds observed seemed consistent with balloon behavior.

No photographs were taken, and no ground or airborne radar confirmed the sighting itself. The case file OCR quality degrades significantly in the middle pages, making some technical details difficult to extract. What remains clear is that investigators leaned toward a mundane explanation, though the three consecutive nights of sightings and the sensory details reported (sound and smell, not typical of astronomical phenomena) left some uncertainty in the official record.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 11 pages from microfilm T1206, Roll 33.

Reported location

Nunica, Michigan

Date of incident

May 1958

State / country

MI / US

Page count

11 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 33

F ' a foo bs f (a i) Fo fab REET Pree da rn spre pram. —— 4 : ’ 3 4 ; 3 us & PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD : 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS . | 0 Was Balloon j ] |2z a 28 Hay 5 9 pokey Sales 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION PRT, mm | Local RRB («© | R— XX Bround- Visual O Ground-Radar 8 fe po AP GMT 21/ 07457 0 Air Visvol O Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aircraft | i Ss. PHOTOS . SOU O Was Astronomical O Yes 0 Probably Astronomical XN civilian (housewife A: FURY B———" 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE BBY cdi XX Insufficient Data for Evaluation 0 Unknown l or 2 secs one § to 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING : 11. COMMENTS A white streak of light was seen Only a white streak of light Yiow on horizon, & the sound of escap- | was seen low on horizon, There | ing air & odor of auto exhaust gas was| is not enough info to evaluate noted at same time. Possibly meteors; however, objs | observed at same time on succeed|- | ing nights. ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) i ! I | = » } 0 Bo ¢ | jo i A oR A 5 S500 Bis | {I ro a A bs et ai el es Sa a ‘ |