Identification of Falling Object — Marysville, Ohio, 21 August 1959

On 21 August 1959, at approximately 1300 hours, a red-tinted glass plate fell from the sky and landed on the roof of a house 17 miles northwest of Marysville, Ohio. The witness, Arnold Wiley, reported that there were no aircraft in sight and he heard no sound prior to the object's arrival. The object was recovered and turned over to the local County Civilian Defense head, Robert Gordon, who subsequently provided it to the Intelligence Division of the 376th Bombardment Wing at Lockbourne Air Force Base. The object measured 53 by 107 millimeters and featured a smooth surface with four ground lines intersecting at the center to form an eight-pointed star. It was found broken into three pieces with carbonized edges, suggesting exposure to extreme heat. The local newspaper, The Journal Tribune, published a report on the incident on 24 August 1959, though it incorrectly identified the date of the fall as 22 August. An investigation by T/Sgt Charles E. Robinson of the 376th Armament and Electronics Squadron concluded that the item was a 'water house stop' used in 0-23 or 0-22 radar recording cameras. Such components are used in diaphragms to regulate light exposure for high-altitude, high-speed aerial photography. The carbonization and apparent melting were attributed to air friction generated by high-speed flight or a free fall from extreme altitudes. Personnel at North American Aircraft in Columbus, Ohio, confirmed that their aircraft did not utilize this specific equipment. Colonel Vitunak at Wright Patterson Air Force Base advised that the glass be forwarded for further examination. The 376th Bombardment Wing requested the final determination of the object's source so that a letter of appreciation could be sent to the finder, and noted that the local press had requested further information for a follow-up story regarding procedures for reporting future findings.