Declassified Blue Book File: Air Force Blamed Levelland UFOs

Declassified Blue Book File: Air Force Blamed Levelland UFOs on Ball Lightning

In November 1957, multiple witnesses near Levelland, Texas, reported a glowing object that stalled car engines. The Air Force's Project Blue Book concluded the sightings were 'probably due to a phenomena known as ball lightning,' but requested further scientific review.

Published

September 13, 2026

Declassified

Date not listed

Source agency

The Black Vault (FOIA archive)

foiadeclassifiedbluebookairforceblamedlevelland

Air Force Ball Lightning Verdict in Levelland File

The declassified Book file on the Levelland, Texas sightings of November 2–3, 1957, reaches a conclusion that sits uneasily beside the witness testimony it preserves. S. Air Force investigation determined the events were "probably due to a phenomena known as ball lightning" rather than any structured craft.

That verdict, recorded in the case file, is the central claim this article examines: an official attribution to atmospheric electricity, set against reports of a luminous object that allegedly interfered with automobiles. The file itself is a composite. It contains a Project 10073 Record Card with fields for location, type of observation, and conclusions; an Air Force Technical Information Sheet questionnaire distributed to observers; a preliminary report transmitted from Reese AFB; and an analyst's concluding assessment.

The analyst's conclusion stated the phenomenon was "undoubtedly related to the meteorological conditions" present at the time, citing fog, light rain, mist, a low ceiling, and lightning…

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Based on the official release at https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/project-blue-book-levelland-ufo-case-november-2-3-1957/

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