Dawson City, Canada, November 1961November 1961

On the evening of November 16, 1961, two carpenters in Dawson City, Canada, watched a bright object move across the sky. The object traveled from south to north in an arc and left behind a white vapor trail as it moved. Within a short time, it disappeared in the northerly direction. The sky was clear, there was no wind, and visibility was good. The observers were convinced they had seen a flying object, particularly because the object had been picked up by air traffic control radar.

The Air Force asked for more details. In a follow-up message, military officials requested information about the object's shape, its size compared to everyday objects, and exactly where it was in the sky when first and last spotted. They also asked how long the sighting lasted and wanted a complete weather report. Officials asked whether any aircraft were in the area at the time.

Based on the information in the initial report, the Air Force believed the sighting was probably a meteor. The case file notes that the short duration of the sighting and the general characteristics of what was observed suggested a meteor observation. However, the file does not indicate whether the Air Force ever received answers to its follow-up questions or whether investigators changed their conclusion based on additional information.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, comprising 7 pages.