Sighting of Unconventional Aircraft

On October 4, 1955, at approximately 1630 hours, an individual traveling by train observed an unconventional aircraft. The witness, accompanied by others in a Wagon-Lit compartment, was alerted to the object by a companion. The train was moving slowly, estimated at 20 mph, through a dark but clear evening. The witness observed a large, triangular object on the ground, estimated to be approximately two miles from the railroad. The object was described as having a squat shape comparable to a jet fighter and featured three lights, one at each point of the triangle. The witness observed the object being ejected from a launching site, performing between three and seven fast spirals in the air, and subsequently climbing at a 45-degree angle to a high altitude. The witness explicitly characterized the event as a launching procedure similar to a missile ejection, noting that a companion from an adjacent compartment reported this was the second such launch in rapid succession. While the witness and others continued to observe the ascent, a steward on the train pointed toward the rear of the car and shook his head, effectively discouraging further observation.