Tarawa Island (Pacific), January 1961January 1961

Insufficient Data

Summary

On January 8, 1961, a civilian observer on Tarawa Island in the Pacific reported a very bright green fireball object with a red tail. The object crossed the island from east to west at high speed below cumulus clouds. It burned out and turned to the southwest at an approximate altitude of three zero degrees. The sighting lasted about five seconds in daylight. The witness observed what appeared to be a meteor of the fireball class. The Air Force noted many similar reports from individuals sighting objects comparable to this one, and they invariably turned out to be meteors connected with meteor showers occurring that time of year.

Reported location

Tarawa Island (Pacific), January 1961

Date of incident

January 1961

State / country

? / XX

Page count

3 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 41

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 3

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE | 2. LOCATION | 12. CONCLUSIONS
8 Jan 61 | Tarawa Island (Pacific) | Was Balloon
 | | Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION | Possibly Balloon
Local: [illegible] | Ground-Visual | Ground-Radar | Was Aircraft
GMT: 0906+12 Jan 61 | Air-Visual | Air-Intercept Radar | Probably Aircraft
 | | | Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS | 6. SOURCE | Was Astronomical [illegible]
 Yes | Civilian | Probably Astronomical
 No | | Possibly Astronomical
 | | Other
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE | Insufficient Data for Evaluation
5 sec | 1 | SW | Unknown

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Very bright green fireball 11. COMMENTS There were no satellites re-
object with red tail. Very high speed below entering at this time. Description and
cumulus clouds. Burned out. Approx altitude duration is characteristic of a meteor.
30 degrees. | There have been many reports of individuals sighting objects very similar to this one,
and they invariably turn out to be meteors
connected with one of the many meteor
showers that occur this time of year.
Although the info reported is limited, it
appears that the witnesses observed a
meteor of the fireball class.

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 24 SEP 52)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28990816