Seattle, WashingtonOctober 1959

Insufficient Data

Summary

On the evening of October 2, 1959, military radar operators at Seattle tracked five unidentified objects on their screens. Several additional objects appeared but were not formally reported. The objects usually showed up in pairs. When seen visually, witnesses described them as round, about the size of a quarter, with white and blue coloring and a flickering light. The radar blips were weak but detectable.

The objects moved in erratic patterns, changing direction and altitude frequently. They ranged between four thousand and eight thousand yards away, shifting between 190 and 170 degrees azimuth (roughly west-northwest). The radar contact lasted approximately three hours before the objects faded from the scope and visual observation. Fog moved in about an hour and a half after the initial sighting, which disrupted visual tracking.

The investigation examined several possibilities. Radar data showed the objects could have been influenced by atmospheric conditions. Specifically, the file notes that a temperature inversion (a layer of warm air trapped above cooler air, which can bend light and radar signals) along with associated mirage effects might explain both the visual sightings and the radar returns. The Seattle Air Traffic Control Center reported no conventional aircraft in the area at the time.

The Air Force's own investigators stated they lacked sufficient information to offer a valid explanation for the sighting. The case was ultimately classified as unknown. The full case file, comprising 8 pages of declassified records held by the National Archives, is reproduced below.

Reported location

Seattle, Washington

Date of incident

October 1959

State / country

WA / US

Page count

8 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 37

a 4 : PROJECT 10073 RECCRD CARD 1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS ~~ |O0 Wos Balloon 3 2 Oct 59 Seattle, Washington g- Gougnly Rallesn i 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION ossivly Balloon 1 RD y : Than O Was Aircraft {ocal 00207, Q:Ground- Visual Q>Ground-Radar Q Probably Aircraft ’. CMT 0 Air Visual : O Air-intercept Radar DO Possibly Aircraft . 5. PHOTOS 8. SOURCE C Was Astronomicol QC Yes CO Probably Astronomicol Go Military 80 Possibly Astronomical 7. LENGTH OF OBSERYATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE B&F Other PL20 RoT2Z2 i BC Insufficient Data for Evaluation ; : O Unknown ; 3 hrs unknown ecratic = i 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING [11. COMMENTS ; Five objects tracked on radar, several ofthe: 8 It was concluded that a temperature 3 not rptd sually appeared in gairs. R siza. HE PGR YE . Some | LER Sha PRL) appeared Fm Nd, S1Z%inversion w/the assciated mirage effects 4 of quarter, white an lue wililickering light gr Ret gs - 4 SEAR RL) THANE e oiue wiillcxerdiilg L2@3%4 poth visual and radar, was the cause of 9 weal blip on radar. Faded after approximately] insa ciogh+in 4d) ms RSE ~& : C18 Signvilng. 3 three nrs., Flight patterns were erratic, ip ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) 4 E big pre . LE pos a by: 3 bh AER NER EA ap DEAL vie Ty ¥