UFO shot in Virginia

Summary

A declassified document from October 19, 1959, describes a sighting of an unidentified object near Langley AFB, Virginia. A civilian youth fired three times at a round object about 4 feet in diameter, with a black dome in the center. The witness claimed he heard a metal-on-metal sound when the projectile hit. After the third shot, he closed his eyes and when he opened them, the object had vanished. Initially dismissed as a hoax, the investigation revealed the boys had not directly reported the incident but were contacted by third parties. The USAF concluded there was insufficient evidence for an official evaluation and the case was closed. However, civilian researchers criticized the military's attitude, noting the case had unusual characteristics that warranted more attention.

The controversy intensified when a civilian research group requested a deeper investigation, arguing the case was not a hoax and the object had no conventional explanation. The USAF responded that it was not obligated to investigate every sighting, especially if not officially reported. Despite criticism, the Air Force maintained its stance that unidentified objects did not pose a national security threat. The case remains an example of how UFO sightings can generate distrust toward military authorities and how lack of transparency can fuel conspiracy theories.