2 Mi N Or Scottsburg, IndianaJanuary 1960

Unidentified

Summary

On January 9, 1960, a science teacher from Underwood, Indiana saw a shiny, cigar-shaped object that appeared to rotate slowly in the western sky. The sighting occurred around 10:30 p.m. local time, roughly 30 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky, and about 2 miles north of Scottsburg, Indiana. The witness observed the object for approximately 5 minutes. It was positioned between 20 and 30 degrees above the horizon and had a golden color that made it stand out against the night sky.

The Air Force's investigation centered on an explanation based on weather and optical effects. According to the file's conclusion, the object was probably a cloud reflecting the sun's rays. The analysts theorized that upper air currents moving across the cloud could create the appearance of rotation, which the witness had observed. This explanation was listed in the case summary on the official Project Blue Book form.

However, the file's official evaluation marked the case as "unidentified" rather than confirmed as a balloon or cloud. Despite the weather-based theory in the comments section, the Air Force did not definitively resolve what the witness saw. The case includes a detailed questionnaire completed by the observer, along with standard Air Force documentation of the sighting.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, consisting of 9 pages.

Reported location

2 Mi N Or Scottsburg, Indiana

Date of incident

January 1960

State / country

IN / US

Page count

9 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 37

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 9

View transcribed text

I iL degli cp det tes a ade et nnd Dba adil wi bldg del ER Lact Ella . i J
| LJ
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
9 January, 1960 2 Mi I of Scottsburg, Indiana 0 Was Balloon
0 Probubly Balloon
a en ee Sw — —— —————— A ———  ——) vl H
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 cinesstDy, Bulibon
1A30_-143C ay { 1 Was Aircraft
LO) v) o id ‘ = Ld .
Local td ROADY ro 3 Ground-VYisual 0 Ground-Rader 0 Probobly Aircraft
5 ) ii) v, Hor 4 .
1 (61, pestle AA hE a 0 AirVisual 0 Air-Intercspt Radar 0 Possibly Aircraft
S. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE 1 Was Astronomical
0 Yes {3 Probably Astronomicol
E'No Civilian a Cogsltly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE ‘3° Other_iXob Lloud,
13 Insufficient Duta for Evaluation
f Sie 4 5 0 Unknown
Approx 5 minutes one whationary :
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
Very .shiny cigar shaped ohjzct of golden Probably a cloud reflecting the sun's
color. Appeared to rotate on own aris rays with upper air currents giving
slowly. Ubserved at 20-30 degrees above the appearance of rotation,
the horizon in the West.
]
Me Guire A
ATIC FORM 320 (REV 26 SEP 52)
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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28985662