Minot, Bismarck N. D., March 1961March 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On March 10, 1961, an unknown light was reported in the Minot and Bismarck area of North Dakota. The light was seen about 3 to 4 miles off a runway at an altitude of about 1,600 feet. It changed color from white to green, yellow, and red.

On Project 10073, the Air Force's official record for unidentified flying object reports, the comments said the light was probably the planet Venus, which was very low on the horizon. The color changes were probably caused by distortion and refraction in the atmosphere near the horizon.

Reported location

Minot, Bismarck N. D., March 1961

Date of incident

March 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

; ;
g |
’ \ PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD A
: 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS |
3 O Was Balloon
i 10 Mar 61 Minot, Bismarck N. D. 0 Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION ri Bots Jl hed il
i OO ai aba, BR Ground- Visual O Ground-Rodor a Probobly Aircraft
: GMT bf 04002 a Air Visual O Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aireroft bo
{ 5. PHOTOS . SOURCE OO Was Astronomical Ver us
1 a Yes B Probobly Astronomical
j " ¢ 2 DO Possibly Astronomical
: B Neo | Mi litary and Civilian : |
: 7. LENGTH OF.OBSERVATION i NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE J —
: D Insufficient Date for Evaluation
4 O Unknown
i 15 min 1 Stationary |
3 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Unknown light observed [1). COMMENTS Probably observation of Venus, |
1 3 3-4 miles off runway at 1,600'. Light changingwhich was pei low on horizon. Probable |
I color fm white, green, yellow, red. Remained istortion/ O location and refraction in |
f faXly stationary and disappeared into horizon.ptmosphere. Venus was of -4,3 mag and |
Reports from N. D. are in general a/c landing prightest objt up at this time. During |
3 about time of observation. Local report fm atter part of Feb and first part of
1 civilian report same. farch there was a rash of reports due to |
8 isidentification of this Planet.
| ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) :
4 ; ; A R
4 S
Ce a Co EN EL RS TTT DTT Re pe 4

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991825