White meteor over Buck Island in 1962

Summary

In October 1962, a witness on Buck Island in the Caribbean observed a white streak entering the atmosphere at a 45-degree angle, about 10 degrees above the horizon. The object remained white for the entire three-second observation, ruling out flares or aircraft. The data aligned with a meteor, and the brief duration of the event supported this conclusion. Although initially reported as a UFO sighting, military authorities classified it as a common astronomical phenomenon.

The report was sent to the Department of the Air Force and distributed to various agencies, including the Army, CIA, and DIA. Despite considering other possibilities like balloons or aircraft, the color, speed, and short duration of the event clearly pointed to a meteor. This case is an example of how natural phenomena were often mistaken for unidentified objects, especially during the Cold War, when any aerial anomaly warranted investigation.