Ohio River, IndianaFebruary 1958

Insufficient Data

Summary

On February 4, 1958, two hunters found an object made of half plastic and half fiber in the Ohio River in Indiana. The hunters brought it to the OSI (Office of Special Investigations). Analysis showed the device was a magnetometer designed to measure the strength of the earth's magnetic field. The sensing element was supported by a pendulous mounting. The device was probably carried to high altitude by a balloon. It then transmitted field strength measurements by telemetry to a ground station. The Air Force concluded the object was a balloon.

Reported location

Ohio River, Indiana

Date of incident

February 1958

State / country

IN / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 32

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 1C073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE                           2. LOCATION                    12. CONCLUSIONS
   4 Feb 58                          Ohio River, Indiana area       [ ] Was Balloon
                                                                     [X] Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP              4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION            [ ] Possibly Balloon
   Local                           [X] Ground-Visual              [ ] Was Aircraft
   GMT        NA                   [ ] Ground-Radar               [ ] Probably Aircraft
                                   [ ] Air-Visual                 [ ] Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS                       [ ] Air-Intercept Radar          [ ] Was Astronomical
   [ ] Yes                      6. SOURCE                         [ ] Probably Astronomical
   [X] No      Phys. Spec.         Civilian (2)                  [ ] Possibly Astronomical
                                                                   [ ] Other_aeronautical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION       8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS  9. COURSE    [X] Insufficient Data for Evaluation
   NA                             one              NA              [ ] Unknown

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING  11. COMMENTS
    A 2nd obj, half plastic & half fibre  The device was found to be a
    was picked up along the Ohio River     magnetometer for remote measur-
    in Indiana by 2 hunters. It eventually ement of the strength of the
    got to the OSI, who turned it into     earth's horizontal magnetic
    ATIC for analysis.                     field.

/ 3

Use ← → keys to navigate · scans hosted by the U.S. National Archives

Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28976989