Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, February 1961February 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On February 3, 1961, at about 1703 to 1704Z (between dusk and dark), an Air Force weather observer at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany reported a round, almost pure white object. It was the size of a baseball held at arm's length and looked like a large, bright star, only much closer. No tail, trail, exhaust, or sound was noted.

The object approached the observation tower at about a 35 degree angle on an estimated heading of 055 degrees, moving from southwest to northeast. It disappeared at about a 50 degree angle on the same heading. It passed through an opaque cloud with its light still visible, then into a solid cloud to the northeast. The sighting lasted about 8 to 12 seconds.

The Air Force conclusion was probably astronomical. The comment says the object's speed ruled out a satellite, so it was probably a meteor, with the duration due to the object overtaking the earth as it rotated.

Reported location

Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, February 1961

Date of incident

February 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

5 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 5

View transcribed text

ai PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD ; ‘
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
| O Wos Bolloon
3 Feb 61 Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany |O Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP _ 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION eT Ree
Local 180 8 Ground- Visual O Ground-Rodar a Brobutty Moverdh
emt 71.7032 a Air Visudl DO Air-Intercept Radar |D Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS . SOURCE O Was Astronomical MWETESIT
O Yes B Probably Astronomical
| & Neo Military O Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF.OBSERVATION " NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE CAR TR ———
; O Insufficient Dote for Evaluction
O Unknown
8-12 Seconds 1 SW-NE |
| 10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Round, almost pure white|!l. COMMENTS(Ob ject was moving to NE, or in |
object, size of baseball held in hand at arms | a direction overtaking the Earth as it
length. Appearance of large bright star, only | rotated. Speed of object rules out
. much closer. No tail, trail, or exhaust ob- possibility that object was a satellite;
served. No sound heard. Estimated 35° angle therefore, object was probably a meteor,
approaching observation tower on estimated O55] and duration of sighting was probably due 1
heading at unknown elevation. Object disappearpd to object overtaking the Earth.
at estimated 50° angle on estimated heading of
055°. Passed through opaque cloud with light
remaining visible then into solid cloud to NE.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
- : J
LN
BGs kd wba aid rv : ‘ ’
Ce FC SN WT FT EL FE TF A EL Tos

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991291