Project Blue Book Case File
S of Roswell, New MexicoAugust 1958
Summary
On August 9, 1958 (10/0309Z), an airline pilot south of Roswell, New Mexico, reported an unidentified flying object from a C-46 aircraft at about 6,000 feet. The pilot described one greenish object that broke up into several pieces. There was an explosive flash with a vertical burst, after which the object faded. The sighting lasted 3 to 4 seconds, observed 20 to 30 degrees above the horizon to the southeast.
The event was first reported as a vertical explosion breaking up like an anti-aircraft artillery burst. A controller noted there were no activities in the area to account for the sighting. The Air Force conclusion on the Project 10073 record card was astronomical, listed as a bolide observation. A bolide is a very bright meteor. Project 10073 was the Air Force's official record for unidentified flying object reports.
Reported location
S of Roswell, New Mexico
Date of incident
August 1958
State / country
NM / US
Page count
3 scanned pages
USAF evaluation
unknown
Microfilm
T1206, Roll 33