Danvers, MassachusettsJune 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

On June 27, 1960, at 5:00 p.m., a man in Danvers, Massachusetts, reported seeing an unusual object while watching a jet aircraft fly near the sun. The observer described a rocket-shaped object with what he called "metal scallops," or textured ridges, that appeared to come out of or near the sun and then disappeared into a hazy cloud.

The witness did not immediately tell anyone about what he had seen beyond mentioning it to friends that he had spotted a UFO. He made no effort to find a corroborating witness at the time. The Air Force received an initial letter about the sighting but found it contained insufficient information, so they sent the observer a detailed questionnaire to complete for further analysis.

In their evaluation, the Air Force noted that Venus was within three degrees of the sun at that time of day. The Air Force also observed that the jet aircraft involved was not reported to have been in the area. Based on these facts, investigators concluded the object was likely an optical phenomenon caused by staring at the sun, rather than an unidentified flying object.

The case file, consisting of 19 pages as held by the National Archives, is reproduced in full below.

Reported location

Danvers, Massachusetts

Date of incident

June 1960

State / country

MA / US

Page count

19 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 38

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 19

View transcribed text

: : a " _— ae a lel La dai ise TENE CEST RARE fs n
‘ . Ei) v 5 :
| PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD | od
1 |
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS |
« a Is 0 Wes Bolloon
27 June, 1260 Danvers, Massachusetts © Probably Belleon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION WOR Sern
200 0 Wes Aicroft
LO ah BN iaiiand X& Ground: Visual O Ground-Rodor OQ Probably Aircraft
oMT__27/1700% 8.47 ARETE 0 Air Visual O Air-Intercept Rodor D Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS . 0 Was Astronomical
OVYes : : O Probably Astronomical
XB Ne Civilian O Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE ¥ oOmer_O2tical Phenomepsl |
O Insufficient Deto for Evaluation
LO Sec 3 One ecco 0 Unknown
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS |
Observer was watching jet A/C fly into Gntire observation centered in ani aro 4!
vicinity of sun, Rocket shaped object the stn. /cnus was within 3 d:grees of |
came out and disappeared into hazy cloud the sun at this time, Also the jet
near ths sun. Object had metal scall ops A/C observed was not reported as lzaving.
andl was described by observer 2s a rocket A Added to te oklarvers reluctance to
shiz. after observation, witness went into call attention of the objecet to another
nonse and told friends only thot he had seen percon £0 naar, it is believed that the
a Ur. Lo attempt to get comfirming witness. object en ootical phcrorena associated :
with staring at the sun.CAFRC TEE
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
/
. P) :
. : p MN
’ cb i al a BO a fc

/ 19

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28987432