Oakland, CaliforniaMarch 1954

Unidentified

Summary

In March or April 1954, multicolored objects were reported near Oakland, California. The report was filed under Project 10073, the Air Force's official record for unidentified flying object reports, and covers two separate observations.

In the first, made at midnight on a cloudy night from the caboose of a train, the witness saw a multicolored object with no tail. It appeared, then veered sharply to the left and disappeared in about five seconds. In the second, about half an hour before sunset, two small objects were seen, no more than about 5 feet across, brightly colored with blunt tails.

The Air Force concluded the sighting was probably astronomical, and the file also noted ball lightning as a possible explanation.

Reported location

Oakland, California

Date of incident

March 1954

State / country

CA / US

Page count

2 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 20

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 2

View transcribed text

4 iF
°
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
| [v oars 2. LOCATION ny CONCLUSIONS
Mar or April 1954 From Oakland, California I pcr WI
3 oaTE-TiE oe gv 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possibly Bellosn
°  &o O Wes Aircraf
Loesl = TF | 0 CewmévViw O Ground-Reder 0 Prebebly Aireralt
TR — 0 Air Vievel O Air-intercopt Redor | DO Possibly Aircraft
ITO! hl O Wes Astronemicel
BX Probobly Astronom al CCT
G " : O Pessibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION S. NUMBER OF OBJECTS ¥ Other Ball lightning
1. 5 seconds 1. 1 J Insufficient Dete for Eveluotion
2. few seconds 2. 2 »
| SRIEP SUMMARY OF IOMTING 11. COMMENTS :
1. At midnight on cloudy night observation fro 2. theses
| caboose of train of object described as multi > .
colored cbject. No tail. Appeared and veered :
sharply to left. Disappeared in about 5 secs. 2. Ball lightning.
2. Second observation of two objects about half hour before sunset. Small, not more
than 5' in diameter, brightly colored with blunt tail. Treveled & few seconds parallel
to house-top and a ball of white light exploged from object without disturbing the
shape of the first. After a few seconds both objects vanished. Thought to be an
electrical display of some kind by witness.
ATIC PORM 329 (REV 2¢ SEP $52)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28957726