NUFORC Sighting 58504

Occurred: 1957-08-04 02:00 Local
Reported: 2007-09-01 16:30 Pacific
Duration: 22sec
No of observers: 1

Location: Bainbridge/ Port Deposit, MD, USA

Shape: Fireball

Midwatch spots Fireball headed directly toward barracks.No time to wake shipmates or get out of the way.

The object I saw appeared to be a gigantic ball of fire perfectly spherical , approximately 100 meters in diameter displaying red,orange,yellow, and green flames. No blue or white flames. It appeared to have no tail such as a comet might display. It appeared to be elevated 175 feet off of the ground travelling at over 1005 miles per hour. It passed over the service school barracks # 519 and proceeded in an E-NE terly direction over the service school buildings, the base swimming pool and missed the water tower by an estimated 25 feet to the right of it ( Eastern side ) then proceeded over the hill and disappeared. I watched the sky over that area for at least 20 minutes and it appeared to NOT return to space. I checked the newspapers and radio stations the next day and apparently I was the only one who saw it. I reported it to the MAA but no effort was made by the Navy to investigate the incident The place was Bainbrige Naval training center in the southwest corner where the service school barracks are situated. I was standing the mid watch 0:00 to 04:00 the time was 2;00 AM on August 4th 1957. the direction was along a line from the NE corner of the junction of rte,222 and rte 276 at Port Deposit MD. to the center of Asbury Park N.J. in a north easterly direction. For closer references on the base, the water tower and the swimming pool might still be there but I understand that all the buildings were torn down because they were constructed with asbestos board.

I estimate that the object entered the ocean somewhere about 12 miles east of Asbury Park and 24 miles south of Long Beach, Long Island along the line I just described. According to my calculations it would have had to pass over the village of Churchville, MD. before reaching My Location.

Considering the estimated metalic content of such objects I believe that a submarine or even a surface vessel with sonar should be able to locate this object by following the direction of that line starting at the point of observation longitude 76 deg.6' and 15" by Lat.39 deg.36' and 15" and proceeding 23 degrees E-NE toward Asbury Park. Or they could start at Asbury Park and proceed 23 degrees E-NE along long Island. Considering the apparent observed rate of decelleration not allowing for distance the object might have burried itself in the gravel bank just beyond the boundary of the Naval base. I would check there first before organizing a sea expedition..

If you intend to look for it, any additional help I might be able to provide, feel free to contact me.

NUFORC Note:

Date of sighting may be approximate, although the witness does not indicate that fact. PD

Posted 2007-10-08