PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD: Sighting near Bitburg, Germany, 29 January 1958

On January 29, 1958, at approximately 0625Z, a sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon occurred in the vicinity of Bitburg, Germany. The primary witness, A/2C Robert B. Rigby of the 36th Communications Squadron, observed a bright, basketball-sized object with an intense blue-white light and a fiery red tail. The object was seen for approximately four seconds, traveling from the northeast to the southwest at an estimated altitude of 40,000 feet, descending at an angle of 40 to 52 degrees before disappearing. The witness reported a blinding flash before the object vanished. No sound was heard during the event. The weather conditions were reported as clear with unlimited visibility. The sighting was corroborated by two pilots from the 525th Fighter Interceptor Squadron who were airborne at the time. The official evaluation concluded that the object was an astronomical meteor, specifically a bolide or fireball. The report emphasizes that while the witness was considered stable and reliable, the atmospheric conditions at high altitudes likely contributed to the perception of the object's size and color. The document references the work of Dr. Olivier and Dr. La Paz regarding fireball reports to support this conclusion. The report notes that the observed track crossed the Ruhr Valley and parts of Holland and Denmark, where the object reportedly exploded. No physical evidence was recovered.