Yuma, ArizonaJanuary 1955

Insufficient Data

Summary

On January 17, 1955, multiple observers in Southern California reported seeing an unidentified object in the sky near Yuma, Arizona. The sighting occurred around 1730 (5:30 p.m.) in the early evening.

Witnesses described the object as bright and round, resembling a light bulb in shape. They said it appeared larger than a fighter jet and had a white phosphorous glow. The object moved in a straight line heading southeast. Several observers noticed that it descended rapidly from a high altitude to approximately 40 feet above the ground in just a few seconds. One witness estimated they were about 770 feet away from the object at its lowest point. The object made no sound as it moved, and according to some accounts, it had a flare-like quality with a greenish tint. The entire sighting lasted only two or three seconds.

The Air Force investigated the case and reviewed reports from both civilian and military witnesses. Based on the object's trajectory, its appearance, and the duration of the sighting, the investigating officers concluded that the object was probably a meteorite. A meteorite is a piece of rock from space that enters Earth's atmosphere and burns as it falls, which would explain the bright glow, the rapid descent, and the short observation time that witnesses reported.

The full case file, comprising 9 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.

Reported location

Yuma, Arizona

Date of incident

January 1955

State / country

AZ / US

Page count

9 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 22

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 9

View transcribed text

|
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD |
: ia : ee ———————————————— LE eC eee Sek ECB CE SE eae, PORN ORLp Rsv nd Sh—— A —— A———
1. DATE | 2. LOCATION ile CONCLUSIONS
] 7 | 5 yuma, Arizona : E Was Balloon
ER ly Januspy 1965 | 2, Bouth Gate, Culibroia. |g RIOREIY pio
; 3. DATE-TIME GROUP An 9 Song TATE ssibly Balloon
! Legalise ee re 5 | WuGround- Visual 0 Ground-Radar 4 Pn ea its
Th EE 18/ 01 307 on Tse | Ei Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar 0 Possibly Aircraft
; NN a — | 6 SOURCE ro 0 NER ACtenh WIS A
{ 0 Yes x XProbably Astronomical/ Paiste rd)
XL No | Military & Civilian 0 Possibly Astronomical
3 ST ETH OF OBSERVATION 18. NUMDER OF OBJECTS To. COURSE |D,Dther em
$ 9 seconds | | | 4 down 15 RM ar Data for Evaluation
2. seconds SOREN TERE ARR 18. stushenat | Ci es
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING RE i COMMENTS
| 1) Round, bright flash of light. Objs| From description of the object's
| through thin overcast, Described as course and the duration of
| soiling n"gtraight down" other observers | sighting, it is believed that
also saw object. | the object was probably a meteof.
2) Shape of light bulb. Larger than |
iet. fighter with a white phosphor-
ous glow. NO sound, Originally at |
hich altitude, then dropped to
‘(0 feet altitude.
|
|
So A Ras SRE EL am an a
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
}

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28960885