Albuquerque: Green fireball sighted by many
On May 28, 1952, a green fireball one-third the moon's size appeared over Albuquerque, New Mexico, observed from eight ground locations and five aircraft. Lincoln LaPaz determined its trajectory near Santa Fe; a similar object was reported by a C-46 crew near Otto.
Background
Sighting
On May 28, 1952, between 20:30 and 20:40, a green fireball was sighted over Albuquerque, New Mexico. The object was about one third the size of the full moon and was seen by eight ground observers and from five aircraft.
Investigation
Lincoln LaPaz, a meteor specialist, triangulated the trajectory and pinpointed a possible impact site near Santa Fe. At the same time, the crew of a Flying Tiger Line C-46 near Otto, New Mexico reported a green fireball that rose and then fell steeply. The observation was documented in the Albuquerque Journal on May 29, 1952.
Significance
The case belongs to a series of green fireballs that LaPaz classified as artificial, possibly Soviet reconnaissance devices or secret US projects. He investigated similar cases from 1948 onward, criticised official explanations, and connected them to UFO phenomena such as Project Twinkle.