San Bernardino, Calif., January 1958January 1958

On January 28, 1958, residents of San Bernardino, California saw a bright white light moving back and forth across the sky over their city. The light was described as round, about the size of a dime, and moving very fast. It moved in a zigzag pattern and eventually disappeared over Norton. The sighting lasted around five minutes.

Multiple witnesses reported seeing the object. One witness was watching for Sputnik when he noticed the bright, dancing light. A woman saw it while taking out the garbage. The object circled behind Saint Bernardine's Hospital before dropping out of view. A witness with binoculars reported seeing what looked like a bright flashing light, describing it as like a basketball with red and white colors.

Air Force personnel investigated the sighting. A controller from the 27th Air Division Defense noted that an aircraft was in the area at the time. Captain Smith from the 27th called to report that the bright light observed by numerous people was likely a T-33 jet aircraft that was testing out a new anti-collision light. This new light enabled jet aircraft to be spotted more easily at night. The T-33 had two other T-birds (jet trainers) flying with it, and their red running lights may have accounted for the red lights witnesses reported seeing around the bright white light. The aircraft had taken off from Norton and belonged to a unit stationed at Vance Air Force Base.

The Air Force's conclusion listed the sighting as "unknown," though the case file notes that a new type of anti-collision light was being tested. The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives and consists of 7 pages.