Pennerrell AFB, N. F., June 1957June 1957

Insufficient Data

Summary

On June 21, 1957, at approximately 2030 (8:30 p.m.), an observer at Pennerrell Air Force Base in Newfoundland reported seeing a bright white light in the sky. The object appeared to be about the size of an automobile headlight viewed from several blocks away. It was moving slowly, at less than 5 knots (roughly 6 miles per hour), and was rising in altitude as the witness watched. The object eventually disappeared from view. The observer estimated it was about 25 miles away and at an altitude of roughly 8,000 feet.

The Air Force's investigation was brief. Officers at the base noted that there was "not enough info" to draw a firm conclusion, but they suspected the object was probably a balloon. No photographs were taken, and the file contains no indication that ground radar or other instruments tracked the object. The sighting lasted for an unknown length of time.

The case file also includes a separate, unrelated sighting from June 21, 1957, at Harlingen Air Force Base in Texas. Two round, orange objects were reported that evening. The operations officer at Harlingen went out to search for them but found nothing. He speculated it was probably a comet or a reflection from searchlights.

The full case file, consisting of seven scanned pages, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Pennerrell AFB, N. F., June 1957

Date of incident

June 1957

State / country

? / XX

Page count

7 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 28

FE ; PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD i | 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS b 0 Was Bailoon g £2: iinos THe Dannarrell AFB Nl [»] Probobly Balicon © | 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OSSERVATION 9 Fossibly Seem 221.5 Vi a O Was Aircraft Local ho eaesdeen 0 Ground-Visuol O Ground-Redar O Probably Aircraf? 4 oh Ah U4 1 EG Ao DAir-Visuai O Air-Intercapt Rador 0 Possibly Aircraft 4 3. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE O Was Astronomical C Yes O Probably Astronomical -0 No Military 0 Possibly Astronomical 4 7. LENGTH OF OBSERYATION | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE 0 Other___ = 4 is rsd Dota for Evaluation : | unknown one rising adic Sith ~|10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS | One object, bright white light, size Not enough info but possibly 3 of anto headlight several blocks away a balloon. i speed of object less than 5 NM. Obj | | rising and disappeared, Estimated E, distance 25 miles adtitude R,000 ft, ; \/C heading 160dgr obj bearing 310 dgxy. | 3 | E, ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) 3 a : : x i s Eas ee eR sa Le