62.26N 10.24W (SE of Iceland), April 1963April 1963

Insufficient Data

Summary

In April 1963, a pilot on a flight southeast of Iceland reported seeing a round, star-shaped object glowing as bright as a second-magnitude star. The sighting occurred at 0821 GMT (3:21 a.m.) on April 8 near coordinates 62.26 degrees north latitude and 10.24 degrees west longitude. The object appeared white and moved across the sky from northwest to southeast, starting at about 20 degrees above the horizon near the moon and climbing to 45 degrees elevation before disappearing into the moon's glow. The entire sighting lasted 13 minutes.

The observer was airborne at 5,500 feet, flying on a heading of 240 degrees magnetic at a true airspeed of 198 knots. Conditions were favorable for observation: night, bright moonlight, good visibility, and scattered clouds at 5/12ths coverage. Military personnel received and logged the report through official Air Force channels, routing it to naval, intelligence, and continental defense commands.

The Air Force investigated whether the object might be an artificial satellite. Pages of the file contain satellite orbital data and calculations, though much of this material is difficult to read in the original scans. The file notes that the sighting was "believed to be possible satellite" and the case is listed as a satellite. The conclusion marked on the form is "unknown."

The full case file, comprising 11 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.

Reported location

62.26N 10.24W (SE of Iceland), April 1963

Date of incident

April 1963

State / country

? / XX

Page count

11 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 47

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 11

View transcribed text

8 f
| PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD |
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
; 5 0 Was Balloon
: 8 April 1963 62,26N 10.,24W (SE of Icela a) Etababiy Sila
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Fogsivly Balloon |
: g O Was Aircraft

Laed|itend sina los ig aie Sg) 0 Ground- Visual O Ground ell a] Probably Aircraft
RE GMT: 08/ 21307 XIX Air Visual O Air-Intercept Radar D Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical
O Yes O Probably Astronomical |
N AEE OD Possibly Astronomical
Military ite ECHL]
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE BX other Satellite © “7+ |
: : O Insufficient Dato for Evaluation i
\ 0 Unknown :
OR TEATS fee Rr Ae) ST 2 of - WII are 1 NOR EAST EU ISAS et SNS SS NESBA |S
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
| Round, star-shaped UFO magnitude of ESitadaba—nobravatinble., Believed |
second magnitude star, white, observed to be possible satellite by
at 20 dgr elevation in vicinity of observer and case is listed as
moon disappearing at 45 dgr elevation a satellite,
; 224 dgr azimuth on flight from NW to # os 5 dis ey 5 a 2 TR 4
SE. Object lost in glow of moon. Total Nee : 2 Log re
| duration 13 minutes, Possible satellite, =~ ~~ °° : fod ht AKT Eb : |
4 \ Fags 2 v - .- & oi ¢ : ho 5
wea |
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) = a Lo :

/ 11

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 29000583