Project 10073 Record Card — Kalispell, Montana, 18 January 1955

This Air Intelligence Information Report, dated January 20, 1955, documents an investigation into a sighting that occurred on January 18, 1955, near Kalispell, Montana. At approximately 1815 MST, multiple witnesses reported a bright flash of light accompanied by a loud explosion. One witness, a high school student, observed the event from his backyard, noting that the light was bright enough to illuminate a house three-quarters of a mile away. Another witness, participating in Operation Skywatch, described the object as oblong or teardrop-shaped, moving at high speed toward the southwest, followed by an explosion five minutes later. A third witness, A.L. Tippett, reported a large red flash and an explosion. The investigation included inquiries with the United States Weather Station, the 29th Air Division (Def), and local astronomy experts, including Dr. Edward P. Neumann, who had not observed the event. Reports from the Combat Operation Center (COC) at Great Falls AFB indicated that the explosion was heard by residents in and around Kalispell. Further reports from the Lowery Flight Service and other sources confirmed the event, with some estimates placing the altitude at 40,000 feet. The investigating officer, 2nd Lt. Jere F. Dubose, concluded that there was no evidence of a distinct object or aircraft in the area. The final assessment attributed the phenomenon to a small meteor penetrating the Earth's atmosphere and exploding upon contact with denser air.