Aerial view of a disintegrating object in 1940

Summary

In July 1940, an observer in an aircraft reported a mysterious object at an altitude between 6,000 and 10,000 feet. The object, white with a red edge, was moving westward and broke into two parts, turning green as it disintegrated. The sighting lasted only five seconds but was enough to raise interest. Military analysts considered it possibly a "bolide" type meteor, a space rock burning up in the atmosphere. Despite the brief nature of the event, the observed details suggested a natural phenomenon, though the possibility of an artificial object was not ruled out.

Later investigations, carried out decades later, confirmed the event had typical characteristics of a meteor. However, the possibility of it being a satellite reentering the atmosphere was also considered. This case, though short, shows how military authorities in the 1940s were already monitoring unusual aerial phenomena and how data was archived for future analysis.