Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting at Ridgefield, Washington, 25 August 1958

On August 25, 1958, at approximately 1915 hours local time, a civilian witness in Ridgefield, Washington, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness described the object as a small, round ball of fire, yellow-white in color, possessing a long tail of smoke. The object was seen moving straight down toward the southeast, appearing at an altitude of approximately 35 degrees above the horizon before disappearing behind bushes. The duration of the observation was described as very short. The witness, a 33-year-old woman, reported that the object disappeared before she could alert anyone else in the room. The incident was reported by the 337th Fighter Group at Portland International Airport to the Air Defense Command and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). The official evaluation concluded that the object was an astronomical meteor. This determination was based on the object's color, flight path, and description, which were noted as being highly characteristic of a meteorite seen during daylight hours. The report explicitly references the work of Dr. Olivier regarding meteor trains and fireball orbits to support this classification. The documentation includes a Project 10073 record card and the original teletype communication, which also notes that there was no physical evidence associated with the event and that no optical aids were used by the witness. Additionally, the teletype mentions a concurrent concern regarding an H-21 aircraft in the area, which was subsequently accounted for, confirming it was unrelated to the sighting.