Fitchburg, MassachusettsJanuary 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On January 16 to 17, 1961, a shop owner at Fitchburg, Massachusetts reported four objects. The main object looked as large as a dime held at arm's length, while three smaller objects looked pea-sized. All four were round and bright silver or aluminum in color. They were estimated at 20,000 to 25,000 feet.

The objects first appeared at about 45 degrees elevation and 290 degrees azimuth and disappeared at about 45 degrees, 350 degrees. The large object seemed to hover while the three smaller objects hung back in a vee formation. One smaller object at a time would approach, close in, then drop back. The large object then shot off and disappeared. The sighting lasted about 2 and a half hours.

The Air Force conclusion was that the objects were aircraft. The comment notes the area was used for high altitude aerial refueling and that the maneuvers were very similar to those of aircraft during a refueling operation.

Reported location

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Date of incident

January 1961

State / country

MA / US

Page count

6 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 6

View transcribed text

' ad 4
1 . _. PROJECT 10073RECORD CARD |
i i TS SEATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
O Wos Balloon
16 Jan 61 Fitchburg, Massachusetts  |O Probably Balloon |
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION LE Se Oita |
| LI tc iit mi —— 6 Ground- Visual O Ground-Rador 2 Was Aireralt Ke FUEL oP,
GMT 1704307 O Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar D Possibly Aircraft |
5. ‘PHOTOS | . SOURCE 3 Was Astronomicol
O Yes 0 Probably Astronomical
GcNo Civilian DO Possibly Astronomical |
7.° LENGTH OF OBSERVATION B NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE 8 DI iii
: O Insufficient Date for Evaluation
O Unknown
2 1/2 hrs L
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTINGMain object appeared as |[' COMMENTS (Objects were sighted in area | |
| large as dime at arms length; three smaller used by SAC on high altitude refueling.
objects appeared pea sized. All four appeared | Maneuvers made by objects are very simi |
| round and bright silver or aluminum in color. |lar to those made by a/c just before, |
Estimated altitude 20,000 to 25,000 ft. during, and after a refueling operation.
\ppeared 45° elevation, 290° azimuth. Dis- Duration appears rather long; possible |
appeared 45°, 360°. Larger object would appear| tanker refueled more than 3 ajc. When |
: o hover, with 3 smaller objects hanging back fn original witness went inside after watichil
ee formation. One would approach, appear to |fipst operation to get other witnesses, |.
: lose in, then drop back; then nest would first 3 a/c probably broke off and otherg
approach. began to refuel. Second operation was
probably one seen by other witnesses.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) 2 !
/
; s,

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991108