Rhein Main AB, Germany, April 1960April 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

On the night of April 13, 1960, an airman at Rhein Main Air Base in Germany reported seeing a round, yellow object about the size of a grapefruit moving at high speed across the sky. The object was dropping rapidly and descending straight down, and the sighting lasted between three and five minutes. No trail followed the object as it fell.

An investigation by U.S. Air Force intelligence found that the object's path and timing matched an aircraft that was inbound to Rhein Main. All control agencies at the base were checked for any other aircraft in the area, and none were found. The investigation concluded that the sighting most likely came from a descending aircraft and was "no more than a common occurrence" at a busy airport. No supporting evidence suggested the object was anything other than ordinary.

The case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, 9 pages.

Reported location

Rhein Main AB, Germany, April 1960

Date of incident

April 1960

State / country

? / XX

Page count

9 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 38

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 9

View transcribed text

Rey . ? : 0 toe oss csc EE ROI tor cs oes sc —
. 4 eee 2 dine = a Sia loos iio bE hl Ss ei ee Eh alia MEER re TEE
ys '
| "eens PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
A SS AA TI ty A TE BR ER SAR AA ST A SN A 0 A a RASS AOE PS EW IN $A By PO ARI RA AI IG PP BR A SY AGS BG NO ls RAP WB me A cy .
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
13 Apr 60 Rhein Main AB, Germany 0 Was Balloon |
A gy . y Una O Probubly Balloon !
3. DATE-VIME GROLP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION pd bus Bota :
SL : 3 x 0 Was Alvcraft
Local TT £1 Cround-Visual O Ground-Raodor BX Probably Aircraft :
A ; ~ AE ry 2 :
en OM RARE RRR 0 Air VYizuol 0 Alr-Intarcant Redar DO Possibly Aireraht
0 Yea 0 Probobly Astronomical
5 0 Ne Military 0D Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OB3E3VATION B. NUMAER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE CAR ORE AN APH
J lasufticient Dota for Evaluation
3-5 nin one descending 8 Unknown
10. BRIERE SUMMARY CF SIGHTING C1. COMMENTS
Round, yellow object, size of grapefruit, Concur with reporting officer's report
4-500 knots speed. No trail, dropping fast, thet sighting corresponded with af c :
straint down, known to be landing at Rhein Main airport].
ATIC FORM 329 (REY 25 32P 52)
| i
i hil 3D 3 5 SE A A 5 ran] Ai J a
ol
Es |

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28986513