Columbus, OhioNovember 1961

Unidentified

Summary

On November 18, 1961, in Columbus, Ohio, two separate observers reported seeing an unusual object in the daytime sky. The first sighting occurred at 1510 (3:10 p.m.). An observer at a football stadium watched a round, bright object that appeared to shine like reflected sunlight. The object was positioned above and to the right of the sun, and it held the same position relative to the sun for five minutes as it drifted slowly overhead toward the southwest. The witness estimated the object was 30 to 50 miles away.

A second observer, also in Columbus, watched a different sighting or possibly the same object under different viewing conditions. This observer saw what appeared as a solid round dot of white light with an aluminum color. The object held an elevation angle of 30 to 40 degrees (roughly one-third to halfway up the sky) and remained visible for 20 minutes before fading into the direction of the sun.

The Air Force investigators noted that both observations occurred in daylight with the sun nearby, and that the behavior and appearance of the object were consistent with a balloon reflecting sunlight. The file states that the Air Force "believed it to be possible balloon" and found no conflicting information regarding the characteristics and appearance a balloon might have. The object's stationary position relative to the sun and its gradual disappearance into the sun's glare supported this explanation.

The case was officially marked unidentified, though the balloon theory was the leading explanation. The full case file, comprising 19 scanned pages, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Columbus, Ohio

Date of incident

November 1961

State / country

OH / US

Page count

19 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unidentified

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 44

3 Gilat PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD #3 | 3 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS : ¢ Was Balloon 1 18 Nov 61 Columbus, Ohio a Probably Balloon i 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Sh ENA 4 1510 + ; 0 Wos Aircraft ; EL [me a ERO 78 Ground-VYisual DO Ground-Rodar 0 Probobly Aircraft E (013 Pras Thl Hes LON 0) A ra DYER SC 0 Air Visual C0 Air-Intercept Radar 0 Possibly Aircroft 3 5. PHOTOS . SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical 3 0 Yes IES 0 Probably Astronomical : XB No Civilian O Possibly Astronomical - 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE fl ARR sr ARR ARUN EE O Insufficient Dota for Evaluation 4 5 min and 20 min 1 ea time | SW alii sky 1 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTINGZ r=rorts of smae objt. |. COMMENTS Qbservation fm football stadiuc : 1. Round objt as light brighter than Believed tc be possible balloon. No con- 4 stars. Faraway as if reflecting sun. Above and | fliciing info enc characteristics and : to right of sun. Maintained same position is appearance oi balloon present. 3 relation to sun for 5 min. Cverhead to £W. 30 ] to 50 miles away. 2. Cb: at 30-40° elev p viewed for 20 min appeered as solid round dot 1 fo white light. Aluminum color. Tisappeared 3 into sun. : ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)