Cincinnati, July 1960July 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

On July 29, 1960, a Cincinnati resident watched a shiny object cross the sky for about twenty minutes. The observer described it as looking like a star, except that it gave off two flashes of beamed light as it moved away. The object also appeared to rise into the sky and gave off smoke with a fuzzy or blurred appearance.

The Air Force investigator noted that the sighting had characteristics typical of a balloon. The duration matched what would be expected from a weather balloon, and the observer reported seeing flashing light of a single color. However, the investigator acknowledged in the case summary that winds aloft and balloon releases from the Cincinnati area were never checked to confirm this theory. Because no conflicting information existed, the case was classified as a probable balloon sighting.

The case file does not indicate whether the Air Force pursued further investigation into local balloon releases or weather conditions. The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, consisting of 10 pages.

Reported location

Cincinnati, July 1960

Date of incident

July 1960

State / country

? / XX

Page count

10 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 39

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 10

View transcribed text

¢
FL PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
. Was Balloon
29 Jul é0 Cincinnati 2 Probably Bolloon
; 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION Vimy ween
| | Se | Bete seman [ (Aig
| euT__30/Ouk5Z Q Ain Visual 8 Seimarnst Rute | VoouSy Siren
3 | 5. PHOTOS . RC O Was Astronomical
4 O Yes O Probably Astronomical
4 1B Ne Civilian O Possibly Astronomical
i 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE TLL —— ——
1 O Insufficient Date for Evaluation
20 min one N Wy N—
| 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
1 shiny object which arrpeared as a light. The This sighting has the charecteristics
sbjest had appearance of a shar except that of a balloon =ighting in thet the
j thors wera *wo flashes of beamed light exzd duration is about right, ths object was
he object nn moving eWay from tha observer, rising and the flashing light was ob-
| dima of North ‘tar. Gave off smoks. FIIZZY. serval of one ~olor, howaver the winds
aloft sndballoon releases from the
Cincinnat! area were not checked out.
Due to the absences of conflicting
ipforontion the case ic listed as a
balloon sighting.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) |

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28988040