Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Report - 20 September 1957

On 20 September 1957, at approximately 2000 hours, two staff sergeants from the 13th Communications Squadron, Hugh T. O'Connor and Hillis D. Bridgman, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon while standing on the veranda of barracks 110 at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. The witnesses described the object as oval-shaped, glowing like a fluorescent light, and indented in a manner similar to a coke bottle without a top. The object was estimated to be slightly larger than a grapefruit held at arm's length and appeared to vibrate, with one witness comparing its appearance to a jellyfish due to its translucence. The object made four distinct passes in a generally North-South direction, remaining visible for 5 to 10 seconds during each pass. The intervals between the first three passes were five minutes, while the interval before the final pass was four minutes. During the first sighting, the object traveled in a distinct arc; on subsequent passes, the flight path was level. On the final pass, the object was observed to pass directly overhead and appeared to gain altitude before disappearing into the cloud cover. No sound was heard during any of the sightings. The weather at the time was overcast with low clouds, and the object was lost from sight on an azimuth of 200 degrees. The investigating officer, 1/Lt James W. Wallace, noted that the witnesses were sincere and positive regarding their observations. Despite the detailed report, the official conclusion remained that the object might have been a kite or balloon based on previous reports, but it was officially carried as 'unknown' pending further information. The report highlights the unusual nature of the multiple sightings and the regularity of the timing, which prevented the intelligence officer from reaching a definitive explanation.