Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Sighting Incident Report — Silver Spring, Maryland, 10 January 1965
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AI-Generated Summary
A family in Silver Spring, Maryland, reported a bright, round object dropping sparks on 10 January 1965. The USAF investigated and concluded the sighting was likely a meteor.
On 10 January 1965, at 1555Z, a family in Silver Spring, Maryland, observed a round object, approximately half the size of an automobile, emitting a bright white light and dropping red sparks. The witnesses, who were watching television at the time, initially believed the object was an aircraft on fire. The object appeared from nowhere, traveled in a straight line from the northwest to the southeast at an altitude of 200 feet, and then disappeared instantly. The observation lasted between 5 and 10 seconds under overcast sky conditions with 4 miles of visibility. The report was processed by the 1001st Air Base Wing at Andrews AFB. While initial internal notes considered the possibility of an aircraft with an afterburner, this was dismissed due to the object's brightness. The final official conclusion categorized the event as a probable meteor observation, referencing the decay of object US OBJ954 (1964-87A) on 11 January 1965.
Sighting regarded as a probable meteor observation.
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Official Assessment
Sighting regarded as a probable meteor observation.
The object was identified as a possible aircraft with afterburner, but the initial brightness and the fact that it attracted the attention of the witnesses ruled this out. It was ultimately classified as a probable meteor observation, noting that US OBJ954, 1964-87A decayed on 11 Jan 65.
Witnesses
Key Persons
- Capt R. N. RhodesOfficer of the Day