Bitburg AB, Germany, September 1960September 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 23, 1960, military personnel at Bitburg Air Base in Germany reported a luminous streak at 0119 (1:19 a.m.). The object looked like a shooting star, red and yellow in color, and left a trail. It appeared very suddenly, red at first, then gradually changed to bright yellow. It moved from southwest to northeast at an elevation of 8 to 13 degrees. The path briefly broke, and the object turned red again when it reappeared. There was no smoke but numerous sparks. It looked much larger than a normal shooting star. The Air Force listed the case as a satellite reentry. The card noted a rocket body reentered on this date and the description matched in direction, color, and breaking up, though the duration was not recorded.

Reported location

Bitburg AB, Germany, September 1960

Date of incident

September 1960

State / country

? / XX

Page count

2 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 40

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 2

View transcribed text

Al
3 ond Wea 3a PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
) 1. DATE 2 LOCATION (12. Ci NCLUSIONS
0+ ap 60 Bitburg AB, Garmaay 0 Ves Bolloon
; Hd - _— 0 Probably Bolinon
SR ——— - - RD— - ——————————— i ———————— ful 3! 5
1. DATETIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION $5. Foamy enews
i # ' Po i 0 Was Aicrof
2 oe WC a 1 Grauvnd-Yisuval 0 Ground-Rador O Probably Aireraft
h / 1 C y re .
| CMT BTA LL 0 Aix Vi sal O Alpintercept Rede |O Possibly Alreraht
1 Rr A EE Rs 7 TH TeV] or Oe eA REE a
5. FHOTOS .» SOURCE 0 Wos Astronemicol
TC Yes id A 0 Probobly Astronomicol
0 Ne loon dust 0 Possibly Astronamical
: ——————————————————————————————— Cnballite roantry
3 7. LENGTH OF CASERYATION 3. NUMBEZQ OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE B Othe Svs sus er,
: 1 lasulfizient Date for Evaluation
Not given one SW-NE O Unknown
aA RE Es mae
1 10, BRIEF SUMMARY OF SICHTING 11. COMMENTS
4 tTunincus streak, like a shocting ster, colors Description conforms to satellite reznbry
red and yellow. Object left a trail. Object as to direction, color amd breaking up.
appearad vary suddenly end was red in color, 1660 Lambda II (Rocket Body) reentered
gradually changing to bright yellow. Appeared this date. Case evaluated as satellite
3 much larger than meteor. reentry based upon general description,
although duration of sighting was omitted.
E Se En ATO chs heel Sees ASB HS HEE Lott She ee Ee Ae SUES ey
3 ATIC OSM 1329 (REV 15 SEP 52)
EF LJ

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28989265