3855N--9540E, KansasJanuary 1961

Unidentified

Summary

On January 20, 1961, at night, two military observers at about 38 degrees 55 minutes north in Kansas reported a round object the size of a quarter at arm's length. It was white or blue-green, changing to red just before burning out. It resembled a large flare and had the same brilliance as lightning. No tail, trail, exhaust, or sound was noted.

The object was first seen at 90 degrees above the horizon at azimuth 250 degrees and last seen at 10 degrees above the horizon at azimuth 70 degrees, moving toward the east. It flared out and disintegrated at about 35 degrees above the horizon. The sighting lasted about 10 to 12 seconds. Both observers were rated completely reliable.

The Air Force conclusion was probably astronomical. The comment says the object was probably a bolide, noting the burn out, the explosion, the color, the duration, and the brightness, and that a satellite reentry was checked and ruled out.

Reported location

3855N--9540E, Kansas

Date of incident

January 1961

State / country

KS / US

Page count

5 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 5

View transcribed text

i ‘ PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD ; :
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
20 Jan 61 : 3855N--95L40E, Kansas O Probably Belleon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION "Teeny Deven
RO IIR i misinisiissaassnsinis 2B Ground- Visual O Ground-Rodar a Bhar River oft
GMT _ 2 00700% a Air Visual O Air-Intercept Radar 0 Possibly Aircraft
5. ‘PHOTOS . SOURCE O Was Astronomical Merenie
O Yes 3X Probably Astronomicol
@ No Military DO Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE Bl OI nino |
: O Insufficient Date for Evaluation
a O Unknown
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTINGRound object size of 11. COMMENTS Object probably a bolide. :
uarter at arms length. White or blue-green Description given by witness contains
hanging to red just prior to burn out. Re- such key expressions as "burn out” and
sembled a large flare. Same brilliance as "explode," as well as details such es
ightning. No tail, trail, exhaust, or sound. [color, duration and brightness which fit
irst observed at 90° above horizon and well the text book description of these
zimuth 250°, Last observed at 10° above hori-|meteors. The possibility of this object
zon and azimuth 70°. Flared out and disinte- |being a "re-entry" was checked and dete
ted at 35° above horizon and disappeared at|mined not to be any known satellite or
0° above horizon in NE. carrier. It is concluded that this objec
: : was a bolide.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
. /
A :
CE I rT Fe aT 1 oT ER Se A STO

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991137