10.02.2025

The 701 club: Case 807 September 20, 1950 Kit Carson, Colorado

Don Berlinner describes the case as follows:

Sept. 20, 1950; Kit Carson, Colorado. 10:49 a.m. Witness identified only as a “reliable source”. Two large, round, glowing objects and three smaller, internally lit objects. Two hovered for 1 minute, moved, and three smaller ones came from behind or within the two larger objects, and all sped upward and away.

Sparks’ entry is very interesting. He documents various sightings around 10:45 PM MST and gives an identification as a probable meteor.

The Blue Book file

The Kit Carson sighting is 12 hours off from the other sightings that were documented in a separate case mentioned by Sparks.

The 10:45 PM fireball was well documented in the Denver, Colorado folder.3 The general consensus in the sightings was that the meteor was heading south and southeastward towards the direction of New Mexico. Multiple aircraft saw the fireball. The fireball was reported as fragmenting into multiple pieces. The number varied between two and five .

As for the details regarding Kit Carson4, it is a simple memo from the Headquarters of fifth army on 26 September 1950:

1. Time of the sighting is listed as 1049 local time. No identifier as to PM or AM is given. While it does not mention if it was at night or day, the impression is that it was a night sighting and not during daytime.

2. The source is anonymous. They are only referred to as “a reliable source”. A note at the bottom mentions that the witness was a “trained observer” and referenced the US News and World report of 29 September 1950.

3. 4. Witness was driving Kit Carson to Cheyenne Wells, which was an eastward direction.

He observed five objects, which were described as fireballs or flying saucers. They were described as having the appearance of “glowing molten metal”.

5. The objects proceeded “across the road” the witness was driving upon. One can only assume this means and north to south or south to north trajectory.

6. 7. They were seen below the cloud ceiling.

The objects seemed to hover for one minute and then disappeared. The observer felt that their either extinguished their lights or the objects moved out of sight.

8. 9. There were two large objects followed by three smaller ones. The three smaller ones aligned with the two larger ones.

A truck driver also saw the event.

Analysis

The object reported could have been the bright fireball seen on the same date. Many of the characteristics are consistent with a fireball sighting and there was a fireball reported. However, the time was 12 hours off. This could have been an error since no designation of AM or PM was given. It is not unreasonable to suggest the actual time of the sighting was 10:49 PM.

One could also argue that it was not a meteor. Even if the time was in error, the description had some details that were not characteristic of a meteor. It supposedly hovered for one minute before accelerating away. Another is that it was reported below the cloud deck.

Both of these could have been problems with perception. Bright fireballs can appear to be slow when they flash into brilliance and might even appear to hover. In respect to the cloud deck argument, I have seen fireballs being visible through thin clouds because they were so bright. The amount of cloud cover is not mentioned and it may have not been that significant. A check of weather history for Colorado Springs5, Pueblo6 and Garden City, Kansas

indicates only a hint of clouds. There is no indication that the area had a thick overcast even at 10:49 AM. Therefore, the witness probably saw it pass by a few clouds and appear to be below them.

It is important to note that the hand written note on the memo mentions the US News and World Report account of the sighting. The article is only a few paragraphs and does not describe the Kit Carson event. Instead it describes the fireball seen at 10:45 PM. 8 This implies that the person, who wrote the note, felt the time was PM and not AM.

Conclusion

This event can be classified as possibly a meteor. There is a lot of circumstantial evidence that suggests this was the same fireball reported at 10:45 PM all over the region from various witnesses and pilots. The HQ memo even references the US News and World report that describes this very meteor. The only significant reason to reject the explanation is the time was listed as 10:45 AM on the record card, which is roughly 12 hours earlier. This is the reason I give it a possible rating instead of a probable one. With a possible explanation offered, that even Brad Sparks seems to accept, this sighting can be removed from the list of Blue Book unknowns.

Quelle: SUNlite 5/2024