Meteor sighted by pilot in California

Summary

An F-9-F pilot taking off from El Centro NAS, California, reported a meteor-shaped object diving at a 60-degree angle on May 13, 1952, at 03:15 local time. Although the pilot identified it as a meteor, the report concluded it could be a meteor, though other possibilities were not ruled out. The object was not photographed, and the report categorized it as an atmospheric event.

A second report, dated the same day, mentions a radar crew observing a "long streak" southeast of El Centro. The report does not specify the number of objects or exact trajectory, but notes that some observers thought it was a meteor while others were unsure. Despite the ambiguity, the event was linked to a meteor reported in the area, suggesting it may have been the same phenomenon viewed from different perspectives.