Random Lake, WisconsinJanuary 1957

Insufficient Data

Summary

On January 16, 1957, a civilian housewife in Random Lake, Wisconsin reported seeing an object like two white barrels floating in the air. The witness observed it for 5 minutes traveling west to east. The object had no exhaust. The Air Force investigated and determined it matched the description of a partially inflated high altitude balloon, which often appears hinched near its center. Wind data checked by telephone call to the Weather Service office fit perfectly for the time period, with winds averaging 270 to 280 degrees at 20 to 30 knots. The object was believed to be a General Mills Research balloon from a Minneapolis-St. Paul release. The Air Force concluded it was a balloon.

Reported location

Random Lake, Wisconsin

Date of incident

January 1957

State / country

WI / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 27

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE: 16 January 1957
3. DATE-TIME GROUP: Local [blank] GMT 16/2020Z
5. PHOTOS: [checked] Yes [checked] No
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION: 5 minutes

2. LOCATION: Random Lake, Wisconsin
4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: [checked] Ground-Visual [blank] Ground-Radar [blank] Air-Visual [blank] Air-Intercept Radar
6. SOURCE: Civilian - Housewife
8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS: two
9. COURSE: W to E

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING:
Object appearing like two white barrels one over the other floating in air. No exhaust. Observed for 5 mins.

11. COMMENTS:
Fits description of partially inflated high altitude balloon - which often have a hinched appearance near their center. Winds checked by telephone call to WX office - fit perfectly for that time: 270-280/20-30K average. Believed to be General Mills Research balloon (Minneapolis-St. Paul release).

12. CONCLUSIONS:
[checked] Was Balloon
[blank] Probably Balloon
[blank] Possibly Balloon
[blank] Was Aircraft
[blank] Probably Aircraft
[blank] Possibly Aircraft
[blank] Was Astronomical
[blank] Probably Astronomical
[blank] Possibly Astronomical
[blank] Other
[blank] Insufficient Data for Evaluation
[blank] Unknown

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28968828