Air Intelligence Information Report: Unidentified Flying Object Sighting, 14 January 1958

This document consists of an Air Intelligence Information Report regarding an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sighting reported by an air crew from the 9th Bombardment Wing, Medium. On 14 January 1958, at approximately 1101Z, while en route from Hickam Air Force Base to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, an air crew in a B-47E aircraft observed an object in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 600 miles west of Los Angeles, California. The object was described as round, appearing to be the size of a pea or a pinhead, with a reddish-white flame or light yellow glow. It possessed a tail approximately the same width as the object and 10 to 15 times its diameter in length. The observation lasted between 20 and 30 seconds before the object faded into the atmosphere. The flight path was reported as northeast. The report includes identifying information for several crew members, including Captain George S. Nelson, 1st Lieutenant James M. Gidley, Captain John W. MacDonald, and Major John R. Smith. The intelligence division, under Major Alva C. Knowles, concluded that the description and maneuvers suggested the object was a meteor. However, the document contains handwritten annotations, including a note stating 'Don't Concur' and suggesting that the description and maneuvers might not fit a meteor, indicating internal debate regarding the final classification. Additionally, a separate note mentions that two reports from Navy surface vessels confirmed a body resembling a meteorite or fireball in that area at approximately the same time, with a navigator on a U.S. Destroyer describing it as a 'def. fireball.' The report was processed under Project 10073 and in accordance with AFR 200-2.