Ball with tail seen over Alaska in 1950

Summary

In March 1950, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot reported a luminous object shaped like a ball with a tail, about the size of a quarter. The sighting occurred 25 miles west of Galena, Alaska, and lasted three seconds. The object was flying north, maintaining a straight course while gently descending. Its orange color and trajectory led investigators to consider it could be a meteor.

The pilot's description, along with the duration and path of the object, matched typical meteor characteristics. Although other possibilities like balloons or aircraft were considered, there was no conclusive evidence to rule out the astronomical explanation. This case is an example of how military observers meticulously documented unidentified aerial phenomena.