1605S 17130W (SAMOA), May 1961May 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On May 5, 1961, a bright white object with a blue-green cast was sighted near coordinates 16053 17130W in the SAMOA area. The object moved to the left and behind the observer's position and was observed at an altitude of 35 degrees for 19 minutes by military personnel. Space track reports indicated no satellites were in the area at the time. The Air Force found the sighting limited in nature and concluded it was possibly an anti-collision light on an aircraft, though it noted a further investigation over the Pacific Ocean was not feasible due to the large number of military and civilian aircraft in the region.

Reported location

1605S 17130W (SAMOA), May 1961

Date of incident

May 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 42

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
5 May 61 16053 17130W (SAMOA) □ Aircraft
□ Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION □ Possibly Balloon
Local 1045 □ Ground-Visual □ Ground-Radar □ Was Aircraft
GMT 0505L62 □ Air-Visual □ Air-Intercept Radar □ Probably Aircraft
□ Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE □ Astronomical
□ Yes Military □ Probably Astronomical
□ No □ Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COURSE □ Other
19 min 1 □ Insufficient Data for Evaluation
□ Unknown
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Bright white obJt with 11. COMMENTS Space track reports that there
blue green cast to left and behind position. was no satellites in this area at time.
ObJt high sighted bearing 202 altitude 35 deg. Info reported is limited in nature precluding
a valid conclusion. It is possible that
the light could have been an anti-collision
light on an a/c, however due to large
number of military and civilian a/c flying
over Pacific Ocean a further investigation
is not feasible.

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 36 SEP 52)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28992403