Unidentified object seen over Maryland in 1954

Summary

In October 1954, a civilian in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, reported seeing an unusual object in the sky. The object, described as the size of a baseball, appeared yellow and gradually turned red as it slowly ascended northwest. It was estimated to be flying at a speed of 5 mph and an altitude of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. It left a small red trail behind and made no sound. The observer, along with several neighbors, watched the object for about 10 minutes. No details were reported about how it disappeared.

The U.S. Air Force concluded that the object was a balloon, even though no balloon launches were recorded in the area at that time. The description and flight characteristics matched what would be expected from a balloon, though the slow speed and long observation time created some inconsistencies. Although no photographs or physical evidence were collected, the official report closed the case as a common phenomenon, leaving some questions unanswered.