Between Warren & Toledo, OhioApril 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

A driver traveling between Warren and Toledo, Ohio saw seven lights arranged in a "V" formation on April 15, 1960 at 0300 (3 a.m.). The lights appeared to be the size of a pea held at arm's length. The witness watched them for about ten seconds while driving.

The lights seemed to be rotating as the witness observed them. When the lights disappeared, the driver turned the car around and retraced the route. The same seven lights reappeared in the identical formation and sequence. The witness noticed that the lights only appeared when the car was moving in that particular direction.

The Air Force investigator concluded that what the witness saw were reflections. The lights were likely reflections of streetlights bouncing off the car's windshield or windows at angles perpendicular to the direction of travel. The "V" pattern would have created an optical illusion of rotation. The fact that the lights reappeared when the car retraced its path, in exactly the same arrangement and order, supported this explanation.

The case was evaluated as a probable balloon by the Air Force, though the investigator's notes point more strongly to a reflection explanation. The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 9 pages.

Reported location

Between Warren & Toledo, Ohio

Date of incident

April 1960

State / country

OH / US

Page count

9 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 38

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 9

View transcribed text

Bi eS — a HT PRA et
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: PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD Jo vl, |
I. DATE j 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
Ohio O Was Ball
15 Apr 60 Between Warren & Toledo, : Drabarly Balloon
3. DATE-TINE GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION W. Resviiy Buiven
0300 0 Was Aircraft bi
TTT SA K Ground-Visuel O Ground-Redor 5 tls Averett | |
CMT. : Zz 0 Air Visvel O Air-Intercept Radar |O Possibly Alreralr |
5. PHOTOS op | « SOURCE o Wes Astrenswieel ik |
: '  ] |
dot Civilian Foo Aten |
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE i Owes Reflection |
O Insufficient Dota for Evaluation
10 sec seven Rotating 0 Unknown |
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS | |
Seven lights in. "V" formation, size of pea at| Since objects reappeared when the car |
arm's length first seen rotating. Viewed for |retraced its path it is considered that
10 sec while driving in car. Retraced path objects viewed were reflections of lights
after lights disappemred and lights reappearefl at right angles to the direction of
| in same formation and sequence as before. motion. Pattern of "V" adds to the illusipn
| that the objects were rotating. :
ATIC PORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2) |
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i er ee ee ONE RY

/ 9

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28986624