Sandersville, GeorgiaAugust 1960

Insufficient Data

Summary

On the evening of August 6, 1960, two men in Sandersville, Georgia, saw an unusual object in the sky. One observer was from the town of Tennell, about three miles away, and another person from the same town witnessed it as well. The sighting occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m., and the witnesses observed the object for between 20 seconds and one minute.

The object appeared as dots of light, each about the size of a grain of corn. The lights were white and greenish-blue in color, arranged in a V-shaped or echelon formation with three or four lights on each side of the V. The object traveled at erratic speeds, alternating between slow and fast movement. It held a straight course and did not execute any maneuvers. The witnesses estimated the object was flying at about 1,200 feet altitude and traveling from north to south. The object then disappeared instantaneously to the northwest.

The Air Force investigation was conducted on August 17, 1960, but had significant limitations. Information gathered was described as vague and conflicting, and investigators found no unusual weather conditions or other factors that might explain the sighting. No local information was available about balloon releases or aircraft traffic in the area. The investigators noted that because of the distance from the area and difficulty reaching witnesses, neither vital data nor information of value was gathered.

The Air Force concluded that the case should be listed as involving insufficient data for evaluation. The sighting occurred at night under conditions that made verification difficult, and no additional investigation was planned.

The full case file, comprising 8 pages, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives.

Reported location

Sandersville, Georgia

Date of incident

August 1960

State / country

GA / US

Page count

8 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 39

i 4 po PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD | Ev oare 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS 6 Aug 60 Sandersville, Georgia s Probably Bellen 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION VY Wem | ETRE Rn XD Ground Visvel O Ground-Roder 5 Hp Ret gf A. | our O7/OL5Z 0 AirVisuel O Air-Intercept Rader |O Possibly Airereht 5. PHOTOS » SOUR O Was Astronomicol O Yes : D Probobly Astrenomicel Ne Civilian : O Possibly Astronomicel 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 6. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE CRE TT II 5 Insufficient Dete for Evaluation | 20 sec - 1 min 4-6 NW wy — 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 1). COMMENTS : Dots of light about size of a grain of corn, Information received is vague and con- : white and greenish-blue, V-type or echelon flicting. No conclusion can be reached. formation with 3 or 4 lights on each side of |Due to evaluation of no threat and V. Traveled at erratic speeds, alternating difficult access to witnesses, no slow and fact, Held a straight course and did [follow-up is being made. Case listed not execute any maneuvers, Disapreared as Insufficient Data. instantaneously to the NW. ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) J RR i