10 mi SW of Russell and between Russell and Salina, KansasJanuary 1961

Unidentified

Summary

On January 28, 1961, at night, witnesses about 10 miles southwest of Russell and between Russell and Salina, Kansas reported a large, round, green ball. Observers included a B-47 air crew and people on the ground. It appeared in the southwest and disappeared downward. Witnesses heard an explosion.

The object moved on a level then downward path and descended in a straight line. The sighting lasted about 15 seconds. Witnesses were separated by about 70 nautical miles and all saw the same object at the same time, which suggested it was at very high altitude.

The Air Force conclusion was probably astronomical. The comment says the description and duration are characteristic of a meteor, and that some meteors called bolides enter the atmosphere, nearly reach the surface, and explode loudly enough to be heard for miles.

Reported location

10 mi SW of Russell and between Russell and Salina, Kansas

Date of incident

January 1961

State / country

KS / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

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|
| ihe i PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD ~~. |
; 1. DATE 2. LOCATION Tz. conclusions | :
10 mi SW of Russell and between |_ .  ... | |
Russell and Salina, Kansas O Probably Balloon |
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION O Pessibly Balloon i
| PERE OR SORA | 0 Ground-Vi sual D Ground-Rodar a Proby Averett |
ONT. BEDE RUE it 2 Air Visual O Air-Intercept Radar | DJ Possibly Aircraft :
5. PHOTOS . SOURCE O Was Astronomiceol METES |
a Yes 8 Probobly Astronomical
Neo Military and Civilian DO Possibly Astronomical |
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE BD I cncsiiitmmiiisotia
: a Heol Dete for Evaluation
15 Sec. 1 Descending BER
| 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Large, round, green balllll. COMMENTS Witnesses were separated by Vol
Appeared in SW. Disappeared downward. Witnessgs aprox 70 NM and all saw the same objt
: heard explosion. at the same time, which indicates objt
must have been at very high altitude.
Description and duration is character-
istic of a meteor. Witnesses reported
hearing an explosion. Some meteors call¢d
bolides enter the earths atmosphere, al
: most reach the earths surface and explode.
The explosion is so entense that it can
be heard for miles. These types of meteqrs
are fairly rare; and when they are seen
and heard, startle average observe
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
S
& Shas sn i? RI SRE SC oe :

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991231