Washington, D.C., May 1957May 1957

Insufficient Data

Summary

On May 1, 1957, an object described as "one bright electric blue round object with tail" was observed in the sky above Washington, D.C. The object moved from east to west in a straight flight path and was visible for two or three seconds.

Two observers reported the sighting. A military observer, identified as a captain, was piloting an aircraft during a landing approach to Andrews Air Force Base when he noticed the object appearing directly overhead, heading in a northwest direction. A civilian observer, located between Hillendale and Langley Park, reported seeing the same phenomenon, but from their vantage point it appeared to be traveling east to west at approximately six degrees elevation. Both witnesses remarked that the object's brightness struck them most noticeably.

Weather conditions at the time were clear, with visibility of 15 miles and a surface wind from 183 degrees. The Air Force evaluated this sighting and concluded that the object was likely a meteor, based on the description, the brief duration of the sighting, and the indication of a flight path consistent with a meteor's trajectory. The case notes specify that the object was "bright in forepart, dying out toward end," which aligns with a meteor's typical appearance as it burns through the atmosphere. The file contains 25 pages as held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Washington, D.C., May 1957

Date of incident

May 1957

State / country

? / XX

Page count

25 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 27

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 25

View transcribed text

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4 : \ PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD | |
[i 9) Lid - EES ——— teat ce ee ee eee mest a !
] 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS |
j 0 Yas Balloon |
i 01 Mav 1957 Washington, D.C. a HALL Bailzen
& Pot SE 8 LL ea Lr en PE OI RR vB TE PEL akan bein mia + oh hatielal HEA nel Led AE EE COS EEA SS .
i 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION dbl RAR AL LL RS
i > 0 Vos Aircraft
§ HE Se TA ;8;Ground- Visual 0 Ground-Radar (w] Probably Aircrof?
| oMT___ 02/03007 XO Alr-Visuol D0 Air-Intercept Radar 0 Possibly Aircraft
Po 5. PHOTOS i$ 8. SOURCE Ct :<Was Astronomical
i O Yes * 0 Prabaobly Astronomical
& O.No LT Ee DO Possibly Astronomical
7 ons S 3S Pa rN tei LA) - ¢
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE [oJ {0] | 1 mE Se SC SAA
i 0 Insufficient Data for Evaluation
i 0 Unknown
& |___two or thiee seconds one Loto W :
E 10, BRIZP SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
1 One bright electric blue round object Descr i pion; dudrat ion, idl § ight :
with tail, Object moved from East to path indicate that this sighting
4 West in a straight flight path for two | was caused. by a. metess k
} | or three seconds. pe Rv ra :
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3 £25 ; fi
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| ATIC FORM 329 (REV 25 SZP 52) : Hd
4 :

/ 25

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28969781