Wheelus AFB, Morocco, January 1956January 1956

Insufficient Data

Summary

On January 24, 1956, military radar at Wheelus Air Force Base in Morocco tracked an unidentified object for 12 minutes. The object was first detected at 75 degrees azimuth, 299 miles away, traveling at 75 knots. It changed course to 330 degrees and increased speed. After moving 110 miles, the object slowed to 50 knots and continued on a new track to 188 degrees azimuth. It faded from radar at 65 miles distance. The Air Force later discounted the possibility that the object was a weather balloon.

Reported location

Wheelus AFB, Morocco, January 1956

Date of incident

January 1956

State / country

? / XX

Page count

2 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 24

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 2

View transcribed text

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE
24 January 1956

2. LOCATION
Wheelus AFB, Morocco

3. DATE/TIME GROUP
Local _______________
GMT 24/13522

4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
Ground-Visual [unchecked]
XX Ground-Radar [checked]
Air-Visual [unchecked]
Air-Intercept Radar [unchecked]

5. SOURCE
Military

6. NUMBER OF OBJECTS
One

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION
12 minutes

8. COURSE
[blank]

9. [blank]

10. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SIGHTING
Track at 75h U99dgr azimuth on course of 330 dgr at 1100 ft. Speed estimated 75 knots. Change in speed to 50 knots after 110 mi of track to 188 dgr azimuth 65 mile distant at which time object faded. Total duration 12 minutes.

11. COMMENTS
Plot characteristic of light a/c. Speeds probably higher as indicated by distance traveled and duration of sighting.

12. CONCLUSIONS
Was Balloon [unchecked]
Probably Balloon [unchecked]
Possibly Balloon [unchecked]
Was Aircraft [unchecked]
Probably Aircraft [unchecked]
Possibly Aircraft [unchecked]
Was Astronomical [unchecked]
Probably Astronomical [unchecked]
Possibly Astronomical [unchecked]
Other [unchecked]
Insufficient Data for Evaluation [unchecked]
Unknown [unchecked]

ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28964646