Albuquerque, New MexicoJuly 1962

Insufficient Data

Summary

On July 7, 1962, a witness in Albuquerque, New Mexico saw an unusual object rise from the south and move northward. As the object climbed overhead, it flashed brightly. At that moment, seven smaller objects shot out from the main body in an arrowhead formation. While the seven objects traveled eastward in formation, the main object resumed its flight toward the northeast. The witness reported that the main object disappeared as it climbed to a 45-degree angle above the horizon. The entire sighting lasted about six minutes. No radar signals picked up the objects at the time.

The Air Force sent a letter to the witness on August 21, 1962 requesting a completed questionnaire with more details about the sighting. The witness did not reply. The investigating officer noted that the lack of response made it impossible to gather enough information to evaluate the report properly. The officer described the case as one with insufficient data rather than an unreliable account, since the witness simply failed to return the follow-up form.

The Air Force concluded the sighting was unknown. Radar operators in the area detected nothing, and without the witness's additional details, the investigation stalled. The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 8 pages of microfilm.

Reported location

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Date of incident

July 1962

State / country

NM / US

Page count

8 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 46

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 8

View transcribed text

io iain ry He SR . aie PEs IPED EE Te ea eR RE ERE rm ees Tr ——— PTO re mm—————
»
me PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
O Was Balloon |
7 July 1962 Albuquerque, New Mexico =] Probably Balloon
"| 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possibly Belloon
: I ie XDGround- Visual O Ground-Rodar a Poesy Rirerih
GMT 08/04052Z : a Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar 8 Pessity Nrerert :
5. PHOTOS « SOURCE O Was Astronomical
QO Yes O Probably Astronomical
; XX No Civilian O Possibly Astronomical
b 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE a Other
1 l., 6 minutes l, One $8 N, NE gi bobbi Dato for Evaluation
{ 2, 5 seconds 2, Seven 2, fm main ab:
: : 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
1 : Obj observed rising in the South and Request for additional informa-
E moving toward the North. Rose verti- tion sent to witness. No reply.
1 | cally and at point overhead turned NE| Investigating official described]
j | At this point obj flashed and seven ‘reliability of observer as shake
| objs in arrowhead formation eminated Case considered as insufficient
| L fm the main body, These objs were in | data rather than unreliable rpt,
] formation and traveled East while the| due to failure of witness to
| - main body resumed flight to the NE. complete questionnaire
Disappeared at 45 dgr elevation. No 4
i radar pickpp at time fm area.
|
i ; ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28998051