Orcas Island, WashingtonAugust 1962

Insufficient Data

Summary

On August 24, 1962, near Orcas Island, Washington, a civilian witness reported seeing four bright objects in the sky. The witness described the objects as very bright amber lights, evenly spaced, believed to be a few miles away. They hovered in a straight line above the ground without moving. One object later descended and went out of sight below the horizon. The objects were stationary throughout the sighting, which lasted 30 minutes. The Air Force concluded the case was probably a balloon, though it noted that at the rapid time of sighting, there were not four bodies of 1st or 2nd magnitude in position for this to occur, and suggested the possibility was reflection of ground lights on a possible inversion.

Reported location

Orcas Island, Washington

Date of incident

August 1962

State / country

WA / US

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 46

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE
24 August 1962
3. DATE-TIME GROUP
Local
GMT 29/0530Z

2. LOCATION
Orcas Island, Washington
4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
JCCC round-Visual  Ground-Radar
Air-Visual  Air-Intercept Radar

5. SOURCE
Yes  Picture drawn
No  by witness  Civilian

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION
30 minutes

8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS
four

9. COURSE
descending stationary

12. CONCLUSIONS
Was Balloon
Probably Balloon
Possibly Balloon
Was Aircraft
Probably Aircraft
Possibly Aircraft
Was Astronomical
Probably Astronomical
Possibly Astronomical
Other
Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown

6. PHOTOS

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING
Four very bright amber lights, evenly spaced believed to be a few miles away hovering (not moving) in a straight line. Low on horizon, two dropped to lower altitude & went out of sight below horizon. Later all vanished. Shortly one returned & then went out of sight as the others did before.

11. COMMENTS
Information indicates observation of four astronomical bodies setting; however, at the rapid time of sighting, there are not four bodies of 1st or 2nd magnitude in position for this to occur. The other possibility is that there was a reflection of ground lights on a possible inversion. Since these conditions have not been established the case is considered as insufficient data.

AFIC FORM 329 (REV 24 SEP 52)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28998821