SW Of Tokyo, Japan, November 1957November 1957

Insufficient Data

Summary

On the evening of November 10, 1957, military observers near Tokyo, Japan reported seeing a bright object moving across the dusk sky. Lieutenant Colonel Marshall E. Bailey and Special Agent Jackson, both stationed in the area, watched the object travel in a slight arc parallel to the ground before it gradually faded from view. The sighting lasted between ten and forty-five seconds.

The object's appearance generated some debate among witnesses. One observer described a single tail that resembled a flame, while another reported what looked like three separate streamers or tails with blue, yellow, and orange coloring. The main body appeared white or orange-red in color. Newspaper accounts from the time noted that observers in Nagoya, located about 125 nautical miles away, also saw the object and heard a "sizzling" sound accompanying the sighting. The fact that the object was visible from two locations so far apart suggested it was either extremely bright or flying at a considerable height.

The Air Force officers investigating the case noted that weather conditions were favorable for observation. The sky was clear, visibility exceeded ten miles, and stars were visible at dusk. The Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, while not directly observing the event, concluded that the object was probably a meteor based on the description, the brief duration, and the large area over which it was seen. However, the Air Force evaluation acknowledged that positive identification could not be made. The file contains evaluation forms expressing frustration that the report lacked sufficient supporting data, particularly noting the absence of radar confirmation or checks with military and civil air operations in the area.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, 16 pages.

Reported location

SW Of Tokyo, Japan, November 1957

Date of incident

November 1957

State / country

? / XX

Page count

16 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 30

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 16

View transcribed text

. 3 : 5 Teich - sp ; —— . — OR CT FE Ten EE Fr Ey BE Ve a A er OR TS FHA PA . “ NB te
: :
.
ise A Hes PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD : |
:
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
Re Lal ie : DO Wos Bolloon |
10 November 1957 SW of Tokyo, Japan 0 Probobly Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possibly Balleen
5 ER RA EA SN :B.Ground- Visual O Ground-Raodar O Wos Aircraft ;
{a : QO Probebly Aireroft
3 3). RT . :
omT_~8/0 Db 0 Air Visvol 0 Air-Intercept Radar D Possibly Aircraft
RT PHATAS at SR Te Rp eh AT ~ .
5. PHOTOS 4. SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical LID LOY
O Yes 0 Probably Astronomical
‘ONe Military OX Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE RA CS CE OR:
O Insufficient Dota for Evaluation
a gn : : O Unknown
_ 10-40 szconds one not given
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 1. COMMENTS
1a ~ ? ae ~ p HERE) «34 4s 3 1 oh . vy 4s + Ya, “on, WRTARETE. i NGL (Y, EE -. Jo 3 b- 4
: # ie y flax = rh Prigat 1Lignt y W1 th the| Positive identif Aeaiion cannot :
color oi the body reported as wnite or| be made of the object, although
EianaR Kea, One witness reported a the description, duration of
single tail which appeared as a flame | sighting, and large area over
2p la 2 | y - SAN PNY vray oes rl Gk Rg 1 RE a lol 5 5 a: &0 i J ji i ’ ag
while a second repor ied what appeared | which observed indicate a meteor,
to be three. tails or streamers with
blue, yellow and orange coors. Newspa--
| per accounts reported the object was
| accompanied by a 'sizzling' sound,
Qbject traveled in a slight arc paral
| So he i - oy ye a I 1 1% Cr ra Fn fay 31
lel to the earth and disappeared by
Tad1ihg Out,
ATIC FORM 329 (R®Y 26 SEP 52)
i 00 5 BE RA DC i A

/ 16

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28974476