L.G. Hanscomb Field, Mass., February 1961February 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On February 7 to 8, 1961, from dusk to dark, an Air Force weather observer at Laurence G. Hanscom Field in Massachusetts reported a white object the size of a half dollar. It was first seen at about 80 degrees elevation. The object turned a reddish orange as it neared the western horizon, and its flashing sped up as it dropped lower.

The object moved very slowly toward the northwest for about four hours before disappearing like the setting sun, below the horizon. The observer said he had noticed the same object two nights earlier following the same path. The sighting lasted about four hours.

The Air Force conclusion was probably astronomical. The comment says the long duration suggests an astronomical body and that the planet Venus was in the west moving northwest, matching the reported path, with the color change due to light passing through more atmosphere near the horizon.

Reported location

L.G. Hanscomb Field, Mass., February 1961

Date of incident

February 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

| :
| !
ey ; PROJECT 10073 RECORDCARD = =
I. DATE / 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS |
A DO Wos Ball |
7 Feb 61 L.G. Hanscomb Field, Mass. DO Probably Bellon |
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION OL ERY Seam |
I a in B Ground- Visual O Ground-Rador > ding APY
MT. J(eesod 0 AirVisual O Air-Intercept Rodor O Possibly Aircraft
: 5. ‘PHOTOS 8. SOURCE O Was Astronomical Vernus
a Yes 8 Probably Astronomical
No Milit O Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF. OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE EE RRS RR A.
: O Insufficient Dete for Evaluation
In | | O Unknown
wee Wo REEDS TES [CSN Sins, WORE |” Fm A ——
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING \hite objt size of half |')- COMMENTSI ong duration of:-sighting ;
dollar observed first at aprox 80° angle. Dis-| suggests witness was watcaing an astro-
appeared at 0° 4 hours later. Appeared to turn nomical body. Planet Venus was in W
| a reddish-orange as it began to disappear into moving Nw, path noted by witness. Changs
the western horizon. Intensity of its flashing] Of color of objt as it began to disappedr
accelerated also as it drew nearer horizon. behind horizon was due to light passing
| through more atmosphere than it was
when it was higher above horizon. :
ATIC vor 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) : {
: ; /
[} .
RR rR ae 4

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991350