Grafton, North DakotaSeptember 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 25, 1961, at about 0340 (3:40 a.m.) local time, a civilian near Grafton, North Dakota, reported an object in the sky while driving. The report was filed on the Project 10073 record card, the Air Force's official record for unidentified flying object reports.

The witness described a disc shape, about 12 to 18 inches across when held at arm's length, with a red glow like the sun seen through smoke. There was a single object. It was first seen at about 75 degrees elevation and descended away from the observer into the horizon to the east. The night was clear with a full moon. The investigation included interviews with the witness, weather personnel, and air traffic and radar staff, and found no aircraft or unusual objects in the area.

The card notes the object was probably astronomical, with a note that reads as a likely meteor.

Reported location

Grafton, North Dakota

Date of incident

September 1961

State / country

ND / US

Page count

5 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 44

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 5

View transcribed text

1 PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
§ | dt tnis ghitatiatin
! 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS

8

{4 25 Sep 61 Grafton, North Dakotas 8 Was Balloon

| 5 : : be ‘a Probably Balloon

| 4 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION sili dhs ila

| o3ko Prot O Was Aircraft

| 4 UL] Peet 2 RASA Rl EER 0 Ground-Yi sual 0 Ground-Rodor O Probably Aircraft

[i el V1: ple EA 0] 5 To AR ET DO Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aircraft

41 5. PHOTOS » SOURCE O Was Astronomical

fi 0 Yes O Probably Astronomical

| O-Ne Jip doe: O Possibly Astronomical

E 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE 1 RAL 01) ee a TH Ee

| O Insufficient Data for Evaluation

[ 8 Ce 0 Unknown

iT 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING =~. Gh ahagn COMMENTS “= bably a 156n,

EE 12 ens 4 - - Com . ¢ ipo Fr Le 1d my ate $n eS RS chat ds FoR

E ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP $2)
b
E ~
i

/ 5

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28994832