Springfield, MassachusettsFebruary 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On February 8, 1961, at about 2330 (11:30 p.m.), a civilian at Springfield, Massachusetts reported a bluish-white, cylindrical object with a reddish, cone-like tail. The object seemed high and no sound was heard. It was sighted directly overhead at about 090 degrees azimuth.

The object moved high to the east in a straight, non-arcing path and disappeared almost instantly. The sighting lasted about 2 to 3 seconds.

A B-52 was reported landing at about that time toward the east with its lights on. The Air Force comment weighs whether the object was that aircraft, but notes the absence of sound and the very short duration tend to rule out a B-52, since such an aircraft can be heard when landing. The conclusion leans toward a fast meteor, though the card also bears a probable aircraft mark.

Reported location

Springfield, Massachusetts

Date of incident

February 1961

State / country

MA / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

ERA PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS |
O Woes Ball
8 Feb 61 Springfield, Massachusetts 0 Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION ctor cir
OREO) him ro XX Ground- Visual O Ground-Rador a Brobly Aivrdbt |
GMT 0823302 O Air Visual O Air-Intercept Radar O Possibly Aircraft
5. ‘PHOTOS « SOURCE ODO Was Astronomical Mercere :
0 Yes JC Probably Astronemicel
& No . D Possibly Astronemical
7. LENGTH OF.OBSERVATION [ NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE O Other ____________ :
: B Insufficient Dete for Evaluation
/ DO Unknown
| IR LB RECIRITS: Grats. TIA Gr EES WE SImm———
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Bluish-white, cylindri- |. COMMENTSoys4 ym moving E, a/c which | |
cal object with reddish, cone-like tail. Objt | was reptd to be landing at about this |
seemed high. No sound heard. Sighted directly | time toward E. Objt was lst observed
overhead at 090”. Disappeared instantaneously}overhead 5 no sound heard. If objt was
high and E in a straight, non-arcing path, B-52, witness should have heard it. Fro
of objt was reptd to be bluish-white, which
could have been landing lights (which were |
| turned on)shining on haze and smoke present
3 at time. Nevertheless, absence of sound
| and short duration tends to rule out posk-
| ibility of objt being B-52 as this a/c cp
be heard when landing, especially if it pas:
| passes overhead. Obit was probab Hea
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) fast meteor. Duembe-thovesbeing-ewiy—one
; /
3 .
tas bth a atl a i bd Gt i ha a A A ey iad Hh py

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28991362