Chanute AFB, IllinoisJuly 1960

On the morning of July 2, 1960, multiple witnesses at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois reported seeing unusual lights in the sky over a five-hour span. The first two observers, a senior weather forecaster and his wife, spotted flashes of greenish-white light at 0230 (2:30 a.m.), 0400 (4 a.m.), and 0730 (7:30 a.m.) in different parts of the sky, each lasting just two to three seconds. A third witness attending a drive-in movie about a mile west of the base saw something more dramatic: an egg-shaped object that started small (about the size of a pea held at arm's length) and grew to about the size of a dime. The object appeared reddish-orange, moved from east to south, and broke into two pieces before fading over roughly three to four seconds. A weather observer at the base's remote tower reported the most vivid sighting. At 0731 (7:31 a.m.), he saw an exceptionally bright green flash brighter than anything he had ever seen, about the size of an orange held at arm's length. The object left a trail of sparks visible light fifteen to twenty times longer than the object itself, stretched across roughly half the sky, and remained visible for about five seconds. The trail itself glowed for another fifteen to twenty seconds after the main object disappeared. Two other witnesses at the weather tower and control tower confirmed parts of this account.

After interviewing witnesses and consulting the local weather officer, the investigating officer concluded that the sightings were likely caused by the reentry of a Russian satellite. The Moondust Project Officer (an Air Force officer assigned to track satellite activity) had been alerted in late June or early July to watch for the possible reentry of Russian rocket 1960 Epsilon II. The timing and description of the objects, with their bright flashes, sparks, and trails, fit the expected behavior of a spacecraft reentry. The investigator recommended no further action, as the sightings appeared consistent with a known space event. The Air Force classified the case as "unidentified," though the investigation report itself favored the satellite explanation. This 35-page file is held by the National Archives as part of Project Blue Book records.