Holt, MinnesotaJanuary 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On January 15, 1961, at night, a man and four passengers in a car entering Holt, Minnesota reported a round, blue-white object the size of a basketball. The whole countryside seemed to light up, making the car's headlights look dim. No sound was heard.

The light first appeared directly over the auto. It moved away from the observers on an azimuth of about 210 degrees in a straight line. It appeared to break up into several small chunks of blue-white light, then disappeared as if a switch had been thrown. The sighting lasted about 2 seconds. The main witness was a fixed station air base operator and pilot with 28 years of experience, considered very reliable.

The Air Force conclusion was probably astronomical (meteor). The comment notes several similar reports that month and that the earth was passing through several meteor showers.

Reported location

Holt, Minnesota

Date of incident

January 1961

State / country

MN / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

4 |
|
) en A PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD | |
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS |
; ; O Was Balloon :
g 15 Jan 61 Holt, Minnesota O Probably Balloon |
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION oer | |
ED al iin inisnniii “8 Ground- Visual ~ 0 Ground-Rodar a Probably Alrcraf |
: GMT 1601007 : O AirVisual O Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aireraft |
5. ‘PHOTOS . SOURCE OD Was Astronomical MeTeoiz, |
1 QO Yes Probably Astronomical |
0 Ne | Civilian D Possibly Astronomical |
I 3 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION " NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE O Other ____ |
- : : O Insufficient Date for Evaluation
; O Unknown
LE il itd smite oss —— |
1 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Round, blue-white object|1l. COMMENTSSeveral reports received this | |
1 size of basketball. No sound heard. Appeared |month from several parts of the country, |
1 to break-up into several small chunks of xxx all very similar to this one. The
j blue-white light just prior to disappearing. earth is passing through several meteor
: No estimate of elevation. Light first appeared| showers this month. Object observed by
directly over auto and was first seen at an these witnesses was probably a meteor |
3 asimuth of 210° going away from observer. that burned out before reaching the
: Disappeared at an azimuth of 210°; again no earth's surface.
i estimate of elevation. Flew in a straight line
: on 210° heading disappearing before it reached
horizon.
1 ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
> ef
] | : .

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991073