UFO falling in Alaska identified as meteor

Summary

A pilot at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska observed a luminous object plummeting from the sky in December 1957. The object, described as a brilliant blue-white disc resembling a silver dollar, left a trail of black smoke before bursting into yellow flames. Although initially unusual, investigators concluded it was a meteor from the Geminids shower. The report details the pilot's visual observation, noting the object fell for about eight seconds while he was flying at 38,000 feet. The description and behavior matched typical meteor characteristics, leading to the dismissal of other explanations like balloons or aircraft.

The report includes comments from an intelligence officer who confirmed the pilot's description aligned with a meteor. Additionally, other cases from the same period around the world were also attributed to astronomical phenomena, such as Venus or meteors. This case, though brief, reflects how military observers of the time recorded unidentified aerial phenomena, many of which were later explained naturally.