UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT Sighted Approximately Five (5) Miles West of Ringgold, Louisiana, on 25 April 1957, SPECIAL INQUIRY

This report details an investigation into a UFO sighting reported by a civilian near Ringgold, Louisiana, on 25 April 1957. The witness, a variety store manager from Ruston, Louisiana, claimed that while driving toward Ringgold during a torrential rainstorm at approximately 0230 hours, he observed a large, red, crescent-shaped object descend from the sky. He described the object as being as large as a four or five-room house, glowing bright red or scarlet, and settling into a grove of trees approximately 4.5 to 6 miles west of Ringgold. The witness attempted to alert a nearby family, but they refused to investigate due to the severe weather. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) conducted a formal inquiry, interviewing the witness, local law enforcement, and meteorological experts. The witness maintained that his observation was real and provided a detailed description of the event. Meteorological data from the 26th Weather Squadron indicated unstable conditions, including thunderstorms, at the time of the sighting. A meteorologist from the U.S. Weather Bureau confirmed that weather balloons were not a likely cause, as they used helium rather than hydrogen, making ignition impossible. Despite an air search conducted on 9 May 1957, no physical evidence was found at the reported landing site. The official conclusion suggested the sighting might have been a phenomenon associated with a tornado, specifically a cumulonimbus cloud illuminated by lightning, though this remained a hypothesis as weather records were not available to confirm specific conditions at the exact time and location. The case was ultimately closed with the classification of 'unknown' or 'insufficient data' for evaluation.