The February 1952 Green Fireball Wave

This Blue Book case file documents a series of green fireball and luminous object sightings across the United States during February 1952, representing a critical period in the ongoing 'green fireball' phenomenon that had plagued the American Southwest since 1948. The file consolidates at least three distinct incidents: a B-29 crew observation near Roswell, New Mexico on February 17; multiple B-25 pilot sightings near Stockton, California on February 20; and a spectacular daytime fireball over Virginia and North Carolina on February 18 that was witnessed by over 100 civilians. The Virginia/North Carolina event garnered significant press attention and was ultimately explained by the American Meteor Society as a natural meteor. Their detailed analysis, published in the Richmond News-Leader on April 18, 1952, triangulated the object's path using over 100 witness accounts. The meteor first appeared at 73 miles altitude, two miles south of Buffalo City, North Carolina, and traveled 106 miles at an estimated 28.5 miles per second before burning out 12 miles above Chesapeake Bay. The event occurred at 11:31 AM in broad daylight, left a smoke trail lasting 15 minutes, and any fragments likely fell into the bay. The military observations present a more ambiguous picture. The B-29 crew flying near Roswell at 12,000 feet observed a 'ball of greenish-blue fire light approximately 3 feet in diameter' with a 15-20 foot tail at 15,000 feet altitude, traveling southeast for approximately 2 seconds. Near Stockton, California, two separate B-25 crews reported encounters with an unusual aerial object described as having 'a bright amber glow like the headlight of a locomotive' that appeared to intelligently maneuver, accelerating rapidly and climbing at 30 degrees after crossing the aircraft's path. These military sightings received B-3 evaluations (possibly true, doubtful) and were classified as 'unconventional aircraft' rather than meteors. The file demonstrates the Air Force's systematic approach to investigating aerial phenomena during this period, with formal intelligence reports, weather data collection, witness interrogations, and attempts at classification. The contrast between the civilian meteor explanation and the unresolved military observations highlights the complexity of the green fireball phenomenon that had troubled Los Alamos scientists and military personnel since 1948. While the Virginia/North Carolina event was definitively explained, the military encounters—particularly the Stockton incidents with their reported maneuvering capabilities—remained without conclusive explanation.