Project 10073 Record Card — Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 28 Oct 55

On October 28, 1955, at 0551Z, a pilot from the 54th Fighter Interceptor Squadron observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon near Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The pilot, described as completely reliable, reported seeing an object with an indefinite outline, dark in color, accompanied by an orange flame. At the start of the observation, the object possessed a tail seven times its own length, which reduced to the size of the object itself within two seconds. The observation lasted approximately five seconds at an altitude of 25,000 feet. The pilot reported no sound and noted that the object maintained a straight and level flight path. Despite the pilot's attempt to turn and follow the object, he was unable to maintain contact. Ground-based radar and radar observers were unable to detect the object, though the pilot's airborne intercept radar was pointed toward the ground during the sighting. The report notes that the lack of radar return could indicate either a very large object moving at high speed beyond radar range or a very small object at close range. The official evaluation by the 10th Air Division concluded that the short duration, the color of the burning tail, the inability to track the object after a turn, and the rapid change in the tail's appearance strongly suggested the object was a meteor. However, the pilot, who stated he was familiar with the appearance of meteors, remarked that the object resembled an aircraft more than a meteor, noting he had never previously seen a meteor at 25,000 feet. Subsequent checks with military stations and the University of Alaska regarding potential meteor showers yielded negative results.