Big Spring, TexasJune 1963

The OCR text for page 9 is too corrupted to read reliably. However, the earlier pages of this file contain clear, substantive information about the sighting, and I can write a full summary based on pages 1-8.

On June 16, 1963, at 0650Z (around 1:50 a.m. local time), multiple military and civilian witnesses across south-central Texas reported seeing a bright, fiery object moving across the night sky. The object was observed from control towers at Webb Air Force Base near Big Spring, Randolph Air Force Base near San Antonio, and Kelly Air Force Base, as well as by civilian observers. The sighting lasted between five seconds and eleven minutes, depending on the observer's location and vantage point.

The object appeared as a steady or burning fireball, generally bluish-green in color and turning to white before fading from view. It was about the size of a nickel held at arm's length. Witnesses reported it traveling from southwest to northeast. One observer aboard a C-119 cargo aircraft noted the object suddenly veered sharply to the left and north, then vanished at high speed. In at least one instance, the object appeared to separate or break apart, with pieces falling at roughly a 45-degree angle. Sound was rarely reported. One ground observer believed the object was a meteorite and triggered a helicopter search that lasted approximately four hours, but no wreckage was found.

The U.S. Air Force evaluated the case as the decay of the Vostok 5 rocket body (a Soviet spacecraft booster). The file notes that the demise of 1963-20B occurred on June 16, consistent with the observed characteristics of satellite reentry. The full case file of nine pages is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.