N of Midway Island, September 1960September 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 17, 1960, a military observer north of Midway Island reported sighting one elliptical-shaped object the size of a football with a tail length equal to the body. The object was bright orange and appeared 5 degrees above the horizon moving on a horizontal trajectory. The sighting lasted 20 to 30 seconds. The object moved slower than average meteor speed and was last seen at 19 degrees elevation on a 100-degree azimuth course with a horizontal trajectory and 100-degree course. The observer was a pilot and engineer. Weather conditions were clear with low clouds and unlimited visibility on the horizon. The Air Force evaluated the sighting as possibly a missile.

Reported location

N of Midway Island, September 1960

Date of incident

September 1960

State / country

? / XX

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 40

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

MILITARY AIR PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE: 17 Sep 60
2. LOCATION: N of Midway Island
3. DATE-TIME GROUP: Local [blank], GMT 18/10152
4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Air-Visual
5. PHOTOS: Yes, No [X marked]
6. SOURCE: Military
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION: 20-30 sec
8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS: one
9. COURSE: E
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING: Elliptical shaped object, size of football with tail length of body. Bright orange color. Horizontal trajectory. Disappeared on horizon. Speed slower than average meteor. Appeared at 5 degrees 34' azimuth. Last seen at 19 elev on 100 azimuth with horizontal trajectory with course of 100.
11. COMMENTS: Possibly missile. Duration of sighting and appearance of object indicate missile in known missile range area.
12. CONCLUSIONS: [Checkboxes for Was Balloon, Probably Balloon, Possibly Balloon, Was Aircraft, Probably Aircraft, Possibly Aircraft, Was Astronomical, Probably Astronomical, Possibly Astronomical, Other- Poss missile, Insufficient Data for Evaluation, Unknown]

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28989140