SE of Altus AFB, OklahomaJanuary 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

# UFO Sighting Southeast of Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, January 1961

On January 9, 1961, two Air Force officers observed a bright object in the sky while flying from the Altus area to Shepard Air Force Base in Texas. Major Warren R. and Major Donald F. Taylor reported seeing an object with a blue-white color and red sparks, which appeared to be burning. The object was visible between 200 and 210 degrees from true north, at an angle of 10 to 15 degrees above the horizon. It remained visible for roughly 6 seconds, during which it did not change speed, brightness, or the rate at which it shed sparks. The object then disappeared between 40 and 30 degrees from true north, still at the same height above the horizon.

An Air Force intelligence officer noted that both officers were considered reliable sources. Major Alken had prior experience investigating UFO reports and concluded the object was probably a meteorite or a piece of rocket or satellite material entering the Earth's atmosphere. The intelligence summary noted that no satellites were re-entering on that date, but the description and brief duration of the sighting were characteristic of a meteor. One of the witnesses independently reached the same conclusion about a meteor or satellite debris.

The Air Force evaluated this sighting as unknown. The full case file, held by the National Archives, spans 12 pages as reproduced below.

Reported location

SE of Altus AFB, Oklahoma

Date of incident

January 1961

State / country

OK / US

Page count

12 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 12

View transcribed text

ld hci fs test overs ATER RE SY RUEBEN TPIT Sv itemastute mop net yn . f PIR a EE Ty Re ER wp
RL
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD : |
3 ’ | ———— ——— etl |
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
% Pu a AD i al por 3 Was Bolloon
9 Jan Ol SE of Altus AFB, Oklahoma 0 Probably Bolloon |
rt ————————— A a  ————————— i ————————— i i —— 4 '
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION FUREY Ween
ERE AA 0 Graund-Visuadl J Ground-Radar 0 Wes Aircraft
papa 00 Probobly Aircraft
; MT 1002057 Jan 61 IX Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aircroft
5. PHOTOS 4. SOURCE O Was Astronomical js ToC el
QO Yes © Probably Astronomical
& No Military D Possibly Astronomical
| 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE THE RS CRP
00 Insufficient Data for Evaluation
D Unknown
6 sec. 1
ae. rr cogs | 1 Mg ~ 3777 7 "pare ppe a SX TTY PO
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING "lune color with red 11. COMMENTSThere were no satellites re-
sparks. Appezred to be burning. /ppeared 200- | entering on this date, The description
> ° Ee baal Fes Ne y o -~ 3 ~ ”~ $ “| 4 . » . - dn IF
210° from true N; 10-15" from horizon, Dis- and duration of the object is character
pepeared 40-30° from true N; 10-15° from istic of a meteor, One of the witnesses
horizon. Did not change speed or brightness svaluated the object as probably a rlatedr, ¢
of. burning or rate of throwing off sparks and from the infc reported, the 2nalyst
luring entire observed trajectory. hi with his conclusions,
: ATIC FORM 329 (REV 20 SEP 52)
Ek RRL ARSE NURS dS 8 EPR i J

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28990852