8Mi EOf Rapid City reported light point observation — May 1959

On or during May 1959, at or near 8Mi EOf Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, the source reports the following sequence: CRISP SUMMARY OF SIGHTING The object was described as a bright light, moving in a straight line, disappearing after about 50 mins after first sighted. CCS OBJECTS DISAPPEARED BEHIND HILL STILL THIS SOUTH (4) OBJECT APPEARED TO BE SETTLING STRAIGHT DOWN IN SMOOTH BUT POSITIVE DESCENT (5) SETTLED BEHIND A HILL WHICH WAS NO MORE THAN 2/4 MILE DISTANT. (6) TWENTY SECONDS RANGE OF OBSERVATION: (1) GROUND VISUAL (2) NONE (3) N/A D. SIGHTING OCCURRED WITHIN 10 MILES OF ELLSWORTH AFB AND WITHIN 4 MILES OF RAPID CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT BUT NO EVIDENCE OF ANY AIRCRAFT IN VICINITY OF SIGHTED OBJECT AT THAT PRECISE TIME. A 5-8 INCH BALLOON WAS RELEASED AT RAPID CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY 3-1/2 MILES NNE OF SIGHTED OBJECT. COURSE: (1) OBSERVER DROVE DOWN ROAD HE NOTICED MOVEMENT ABOUT FARREN HILLS TO HIS LEFT (2) OBJECT WAS ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN DEGREES IN ELEVATION AND WAS OBSERVED OBSERVER WHO ESTIMATED OBJECT AT 500 FEET ALTITUDE AND 2-1/2 MILES AWAY AND DUE SOUTH OF OBSERVER'S POSITION. (3) OBJECT DISAPPEARED BEHIND HILL STILL DUE SOUTH (4) OBJECT APPEARED TO BE SETTLING STRAIGHT DOWN IN SMOOTH BUT POSITIVE DESCENT (5) SETTLED BEHIND A HILL WHICH WAS NO MORE THAN 1/4 MILE DISTANT. (6) TWENTY SECONDS C.