Green fireball UFO reported over Salinas

Summary

A bright green object with a glowing tail was observed in the sky over Salinas, California, on May 15, 1954. Three military pilots saw it for five seconds as it descended from east to west. Although initially intriguing, the official conclusion was that it was a meteor. The report notes that the object made no sound, exploded, and vanished—common traits of large meteors. Its detailed description includes a bright green tail and a straight path, aligning with typical meteor observations.

Astronomical records from the time match this description. Green meteors often move slowly and can follow nearly horizontal paths, as documented in other cases from 1953 and 1954. The consistency between the pilots' testimony and scientific data supports the conventional explanation. Despite the lack of physical evidence or photos, the event was classified as a meteor, a common practice at the time to avoid unnecessary UFO-related alarms.