Project Blue Book Case File
Riverside, CaliforniaSeptember 1952
Summary
On September 2, 1952, at 11:45 p.m. Pacific Daylight time, four civilians in Riverside, California, about nine miles north of March Air Force Base, reported one star-like object. It showed blue, red, and yellow colors and was estimated to move slower than a normal meteor. The object moved erratically from left to right and up and down. It was located about 45 degrees east of the North Star and about 30 degrees above the horizon.
The sighting was made by the naked eye from the surface. No observing instruments were available, and the reliability of the report was listed as unknown. Sky conditions were clear, with wind speed and direction not known.
The file also contains a separate Office of Special Investigations report about a sighting over Los Alamos, New Mexico, on September 3, 1952. Three Atomic Energy Commission protective force inspectors reported a moving white light traveling west, varying from very dim to near glaring. The light approached from the east, stopped, then moved south at an estimated 200 to 300 mph, stopping at times. It was watched for about three minutes by witnesses, and the same pattern repeated about three minutes later. That investigation was closed.
Reported location
Riverside, California
Date of incident
September 1952
State / country
CA / US
Page count
4 scanned pages
USAF evaluation
unidentified
Microfilm
T1206, Roll 15