UFO Observation, 27 Feb 65, Captain Mosley

On 27 February 1965, at approximately 2315 hours, Captain Howard R. Mosley of the US Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Georgia, observed an unidentified aerial object. Captain Mosley, who was at coordinates GL178776, reported seeing a round, white light that grew in intensity until it was brighter than the brightest star. The object, which appeared slightly larger than the largest visible star, was located approximately 300 miles above the horizon to the southwest. The object moved upward for about 30 seconds, emitting a white smoke trail approximately 10 miles wide, before the light extinguished. The smoke trail remained visible for 30 minutes until dissipated by the wind. No sound was associated with the sighting. The report was forwarded through military intelligence channels to the Aerial Phenomena Branch at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Official analysis suggested the object was either a meteor or a satellite decay, noting that four objects were recorded by SPADATS as re-entering the atmosphere on or about that date, specifically referencing the breakup of Cosmos 57. The Aerial Phenomena Branch communicated with Dr. Charles P. Olivier of the American Meteor Society regarding the sighting due to the unusual duration and the persistence of the trail. Military authorities concluded that such satellite decays should not be classified as UFO reports but rather as possible Moon Dust observations.