U.S. Air Force Analysis of Flying Objects in the United States, 1-100

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While parked waiting for another hunter to join us, we noticed what appeared to be a very small ball of fire appear in the sky to the north-west of us. The time was 5:25 a.m. This object travelled from west to east, and did not appear to be of great height. The distance of flight as measured by the eye in the sky, I would judge to be about three quarters of a mile and the time 12 to 15 seconds. During its flight, this object left a path of what could best be described as sparking fire about two feet in length about the same depth as the diameter of the object, growing in depth as the object did in size, the maximum being the size of a small football. Just before reaching the end of its flight, the object seemed to lose considerable altitude, then burst into a shower of glowing fragments. The surrounding space appeared dimly lighted by the explosion for approximately 2 to 3 seconds, then fading out. It did not appear as a flash but more as a soft glow. We assume the object to be a meteor.

NOTE: While the observers came to the conclusion that the object was a meteor there are some peculiar discrepancies. Observers thought it strange that (1) time of flight was so long - 12 -15". (2) that it appeared to move across the sky rather than in a downward movement until just before the end of its flight, at which time it seemed to drop somewhat.

WITNESSES: Two brothers of Chapman.