South of Bermuda, January 1949 - Incident Number: 260January 1949

An aircraft crew spotted an unusual light mass south of Bermuda on January 24, 1949. Flying at about 1,500 feet, the crew of a B-29 bomber first noticed a dark red glow on the horizon that resembled either the rising moon or a burning ship. As they approached, the object became more distinct. It appeared to be 1 to 1.5 miles wide, resting on the water, and glowing with a phosphorescent red color that illuminated the water and clouds around it. Rising from the main red mass were two distinct columns of white light, angled toward each other, that extended upward for approximately three-quarters of the mass's height.

The crew described the white light beams as resembling searchlight beams, comparable in brightness to fluorescent lights. They watched the phenomenon for about an hour and twenty-four minutes, circling it several times from different altitudes and angles. The red light was bright enough to reflect off the aircraft's left wing and illuminate the cockpit. All crew members who observed it insisted the display was real, not an illusion caused by clouds or reflections.

Several explanations were considered. Astronomical authorities noted that the phenomenon coincided with a strong aurora borealis display visible in Bermuda on that date. A newspaper article reported that northern lights were seen in the area from approximately 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. However, the aircraft commander and navigator, both recently returned from duty in Alaska, stated that no aurora they had ever witnessed resembled this display in color, shape, position, or intensity. A Cambridge Field Station analysis examined whether the glow could have resulted from ionized oxygen or nitrogen, excited by a powerful electrical field, but concluded that such conditions would have produced detectable corona discharge from the aircraft's propellers and antenna. The analysis found no valid explanation, either natural or man-made, for the observed phenomenon.

Later correspondence noted that giant sunspot activity and associated geomagnetic storms occurred on the same date, with emissions of solar particles that might have produced unusual atmospheric effects. Despite the investigation's efforts, no definitive conclusion was reached. The full case file, comprising 65 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.