3635N 6745W (ATLANTIC.), February 1961February 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On February 16, 1961, an Air Force RC-121D aircraft based at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, picked up an unusual radar track over the Atlantic Ocean near 36 degrees 35 minutes north, 67 degrees 45 minutes west. The crew were highly qualified military radar personnel. The target was tracked for about 1.3 minutes with no visual sighting.

The radar return was an abnormally large blip compared to normal signals. The object's speed was estimated at about 4,500 knots, based on three radar paints. It appeared on a magnetic heading of about 270 degrees, moved in a slight arc, and faded to the west.

A later Air Force review said that, given the speed, a reentry body or meteorite was about the only possibility if the target was real. It noted the very large blip size was not consistent with that type of target, and that anomalous propagation or equipment malfunction were other possibilities. The case was evaluated as insufficient data.

Reported location

3635N 6745W (ATLANTIC.), February 1961

Date of incident

February 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

i mi PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
I. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
1 O° Was Boll
16 Feb 61 635N 6745W (ATLANTIC a] Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION EN
| BU I cis 0 Ground- Visual O Ground-Radar - Grants Rives oft
TPR NAC br ON O Air Visual X) Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS . SOURCE 8 Wei Newenemiaut
O Yes OD Probably Astronomical
2 Neo Milit O Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF. OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE CHR ET
. 8B Insufficient Date for Evaluation
0 Unknown
1-3 min 1 |
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Unusual radar track. 11. COMMENTSOb jt was observed for 1-3 min | |
Abnormally large blip as compared to regular |on radar, with no visual sighting made. |
| signal returns. Speed of objt estimated about | Speed of objt was reported to be 4500
1 4500 knots, 3 paints of radar. Appeared 270° |knots. Objt was apparently seen on a |
magnetic heading (azimuth). Disappeared 270° [mag heading of 270, and it disappeared
; magnetic heading. Slight arc. Faded to W. on this same heading. What elevation wag
j upon appearing and disappearing was not
{ reported. In view of absence of pertinen
info, this report is evaluated as
Insufficient Data.
| ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
; ; ‘ bo
J %
CAC TTY

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991466