Vicinity Raleigh, N. C., September 1961September 1961

On a Sunday evening in September 1961, a driver and a passenger traveling near Raleigh, North Carolina, stopped their car to observe what they described as a "burning star" in the night sky. The two witnesses, one of whom had U.S. Navy experience, watched the object for about ten minutes before continuing home. Struck by the unusual nature of what they had seen, the driver decided to document the sighting and contacted the Navy Department by letter.

The object appeared as a bright light that the witness compared to a star. It displayed a brownish-gray color and gave off smoke. According to the witness's account, the object stood still at times, then moved in horizontal patterns and spiral motions. It grew brighter and dimmer, and the smoke would rise and then clear away. The witness estimated the object was about the size of a distant star and noted that its edges were fuzzy or blurred. The object eventually disappeared in a manner the witness described as similar to a spark fading from fire.

The Air Force received the sighting report and sent the witness a detailed questionnaire in late September 1961. The witness returned the completed form with careful descriptions and sketches of what had been observed. The companion who witnessed the event chose not to submit a separate response.

In its analysis, the Air Force concluded the sighting was probably a balloon. The investigators noted that balloons are known to hover, rise, and move in erratic patterns at slow speeds. They also observed that observation balloons sometimes carry flares for tracking purposes, which could account for the bright, changing appearance and the smoke the witnesses reported. The file contains 14 pages of original case materials held by the National Archives.