3915N 6400W (Wallops Island), December 1960December 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

On December 8, 1960, near Wallops Island, Maryland, a military observer reported sighting a very bright light the size of a basketball with an orange center and blue rim. The object trailed blue flame about three times its diameter. It moved horizontally then climbed steeply before disappearing below the horizon. The sighting lasted 2 to 3 seconds. An aircraft at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, observed a similar object moving at high speed on a true heading of 240 degrees. The object appeared in a straight vertical path with instantaneous disappearance below the horizon. No sound was heard. Captain Donald V. Siecy of the 95th Aerospace Squadron, Aircraft Commander, reported the sighting. The Air Force evaluation is listed as unknown.

Reported location

3915N 6400W (Wallops Island), December 1960

Date of incident

December 1960

State / country

? / XX

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

STEK, D. V. CARL     PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE
8 Dec 60

2. LOCATION
39 1/2 N 60 00' S (Wallops Island)

3. DATE-TIME GROUP
Local _____
GMT 01/0202Z

4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
Ground-Visual    Ground-Radar
Air-Visual       Air-Intercept Radar

5. SOURCE
Military

6. PHOTOS
Yes
No

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION
2-3 sec

8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS
one

9. COURSE
S

12. CONCLUSIONS
Wes Balloon
Probably Balloon
Possibly Balloon
Was Aircraft
Probably Aircraft
Possibly Aircraft
Was Astronomical
Probably Astronomical
Possibly Astronomical
Other
Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING
Sphere of very bright light, size of basketball, orange center with blue rim. Trail of blue flame, length about 3 times diameter of object. No actual heard. Object initial to shooting star but much larger or like burning ball. Appeared 20 degrees above horizon, azimuth about 180 degrees from observer's position. Disappeared--elevation slightly below horizon, azimuth did not change. Observation seemed in a straight vertical path. Instantaneous disappearance below horizon.

11. COMMENTS
This object has all characteristics of a meteor. The possibility of it being the reentry of a satellite were checked and ruled out, one for fact no event occurred at the hour and date. There is no evidence available which indicates that the object of this sighting was not a meteor.

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 2 SEP 53)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28990430