UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT - Novorossisk, U.S.S.R.

This intelligence report details an unidentified flying object sighting in the vicinity of Novorossisk, U.S.S.R., occurring between 27 February and 1 March 1958. The information was sourced from an official Turkish service report provided by a merchant marine. According to the report, at 2100 hours on 27 February, an object was observed in the mountains west of Novorossisk. The object was described as flying at a very high speed on a low trajectory in a southerly direction, at an altitude estimated between 7,000 and 8,000 meters. Witnesses reported seeing three red lights at the far end of the object's trajectory. This activity was said to have repeated five or six times at 15-minute intervals. On the following day, 28 February, at 1000 hours, a white smoke trail was observed originating from the same area, which formed a low trajectory similar to the previous night's sightings. The activity continued intermittently until 1 March. Observers noted that no noise was heard, nor was the object itself clearly observed in flight. The report notes that this was the second such sighting in the Novorossisk area. Following a conference between Major Riggs of the Guided Missiles Division and the reporting officer on 14 May 1958, it was concluded that the characteristics, maneuvers, and description of the incident indicated that the object was likely related to short-range rocket firing operations, possibly within a practice firing or gunnery area. The document was originally classified as Confidential and was later declassified in January 1968.