 presents
The 1961 UFO
Chronology
 Charcoal
sketches
by David Baker of Hill abductors
Sept. 19-20, 1961; Indian Head, New Hampshire (BBU) Created: April 6, 2006; Updated 13 May 2017 This is an 8-page chronology of UFO incidents for
1961. Most notable was the Betty and Barney Hill
abduction, but this was a year for nuclear connections
and incidents involving missile bases. A lot of the
incidents themselves do not have active links as yet.
Blue Book microfilms are only processed to mid-1952, so
it will be some time before we can accomplish that goal.
However, this is a comprehensive list for 1961 and will
also suffice as a good work and checklist for our team.
With the help of William Wise (Project Blue Book
Archive), and Dan Wilson (archive researcher), the task
becomes much easier. But without Brad Sparks' updated
list, the Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book
Unknowns, the entire project would have been impossible.
And our thanks also go to Jean Waskiewicz who created
the online NICAP DBase (NSID) that helped make it
possible to link from the cases to the reports
themselves. "UFOE" is the NICAP publication, The UFO
Evidence (Richard Hall, 1964). Cat. 3 incidents are E-M
cases.
NICAP Site CoordinatorFrancis Ridge The 1961 UFO Chronology_________________________________________________________ Summer 1961; Moscow (near), Russia Report of Russian tactical missiles being fired on UFO Jan. 10, 1961; Cape Canaveral, Fla. Hovering, maneuvering UFO tracked on radar during missile test. A disc-shaped object altered the tracking of a U.S. Navy Polaris launched from a ground pad at Cape Canaveral. [NICAP UFOE, VIII; McClelland] Jan. 10, 1961; Atlantic bet. Cuba and Haiti (BBU) Jan. 10, 1961; Wichita Falls, Texas
(not Kansas) (BBU) Jan. 22, 1961; Eglin AFB, Florida
An elliptical UFO, metallic looking, approached from over the Gulf, made a U-turn and sped back over the Gulf. Photographed on 8 mm movie film by a businessman. [NICAP UFOE, VIII] Feb. 1961; Western Europe, France Disc near nuclear power station. Feb. 5-7, 1961; Maine
Many reports of strange lights flashing around in sky. Some blinked and moved up and down. Portland Press Herald editorial, Feb. 9: "Mysterious objects 'lit up like a ball of fire and going fast' zoom over Portland. Unidentified shapes with green, yellow and red lights hover over Brunswick then dart away with 'unbelievable quickness.' Strange things are happening. . . The military had us just about convinced that no such objects existed. The only trouble was that many people -good, reliable observers - continued to see these things." Feb. 7, 1961; Kennebunkport, Maine
The president of an advertising agency saw a bright red hemispherical UFO which hovered, then suddenly sped away. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Feb. 16, 1961; Atlantic N. of Bermuda (BBU) At 10:45 p.m. (EST), 0345Z, an abnormally large blip was observed for 1-3 minutes on radar on a magnetic heading of 270 degrees. The speed of the object was reported to be 4,500 knots. The object disappeared on the same heading of 270 degrees. The object was observed on an APS-95 radar aboard a RC-121D based at Otis AFB, Mass. (Dan Wilson, Brad Sparks, McDonald list) Feb. 23, 1961; Misawa AFB, Japan (BBU) At about 7.26 pm local time (JSL) (1026Z) several, unnamed observers, [at 40:41N; 141:22E] reported observing a bright light West of Misawa. It was initially seen at 20-30 degrees’ elevation, 280 degrees’ azimuth. Lost to view after 58 minutes, at 288 degrees azimuth. Its brightness was ten times that of the star Sirius. AF navigator witness stated he held a comb at arm's length and the light was visible through 4 of the spaces between the teeth of the comb. It appeared to have moved north at a slow angular velocity. Witnesses described its color as pinkish white, to reddish white. (Basterfield, Fold3; McDonald list; Sparks.) (McDonald list) Feb. 26, 1961; Tyndall AFB, Florida (BBU) At about 7.35pm EST (270035z), Msgt Henry J. Lacour; Capt. Norman R. Smedes; and a number of children, observed one elliptical shaped object in the sky. The very bright object, ‘the size of a grapefruit’ travelled noiselessly on a steady course from azimuth 295 degrees, at 45 degrees’ elevation. It moved from west to east and was visible for ten minutes, on a clear sky, moonlit night, until lost at azimuth 60 degrees, approximately a 45-degree elevation. . (Basterfield, Fold3; McDonald list; Sparks.) Feb. 27, 1961; Yuma, Ariz (BBU) At 1041 local time A2/C Paul E. Reuter and Capt. Morris Royster of the 864th AC&W Squadron picked up an unusual return about the size of a single aircraft moving slowly at about 42,000 feet on a MPS-14 radar. The object was moving at only 20 knots and it left a trail of diffused echoes extending behind and slanting downward. The rate of descent was approximately 300 feet per minute. Total time of observation was 1 hour and 48 minutes. (Dan Wilson, Brad Sparks, McDonald list) Feb. 27, 1961; 5.5 ml E of Herndon, Virginia (BBU) At about 8.15 pm local time EST (280115z), A/3c Braynard Warner; Sp/5 Donald H Lund; Pfc Gordon K Shearer; Sp/4 Richard K Mosely; Pfc Donald B Buck; Pfc Cecil F Smith; Pfc Charles H Hanson; and Pfc Billy G Smith, observed a round, dull, soundless, ‘star’ sized light in the sky. It was initially seen at 10 degrees’ elevation, azimuth 275 degrees, as a red glow, which changed color to yellow, orange and white. It rose to 14 degrees’ elevation, before descending to 3 degrees’ elevation, azimuth 275 degrees, and was last seen as a dull yellow light. The duration was given either as 30 minutes or 60 minutes (differing accounts). It was viewed both by the naked eye and through a 32 x telescope. It was a moonlit night.(Basterfield, Fold3; McDonald list; Sparks.) Feb. 27, 1961; Bark River, Mich. (BBU 7284) 10:15 p.m. Mrs. LaPalm saw a fiery-red, round object, preceded by light rays, slowing and descending, while her dog howled. (Berliner) Feb. 27, 1961; Fort Meade, Maryland (BB) 10:45 p.m. EST A cluster of three objects was seen on
ground radar at an altitude of approximately 6300 feet.
The objects had the ability to stand still and had a
high rate of change of direction. Speed of the objects
was tracked at 900 knots with stops and starts. It was
stated that the UFO were observed by a Sergeant at Fort
Mead Missile Master Center and also tracked on radar.
The length of the observation was approximately 20
minutes. (Dan Wilson, BB files)
Feb. 28, 1961; waverly AFB, Iowa (BBU) At 9:16 p.m. local time, a fast moving object appeared on a Mark X radar of the 788th Radar Squadron at 245 degrees at a range of 40 miles and on a SW heading. The object proceeded to a range of 125 miles at 240 degrees then made left turn to 230 degrees at 140 miles. The object turned inbound on a heading of 40 degrees and disappeared at a range of 30 miles. Length of observation was 10 minutes. All the witnesses were employed by the FAA as Flight Followers and considered very reliable. (Dan Wilson, McDonald List) Feb. 28, 1961; Nr. Lakeville, Mass. A bright yellow elongated UFO with dark red edge, surrounded by black "smoke", was seen after witnesses heard a roaring noise. House lights failed as UFO made two passes over area. [NICAP UFOE, VIII] March 3, 1961; Ephrata, Wash. (BBU) At 9:48 p.m. local time, a T-33 aircraft on normal lookout at 33,000 feet flying 260 degrees observed a round bright white light the size of a pea at 2 o'clock position. The object was observed by air visual and air radar. Spokane Center was called and confirmed a target was in contact moving rapidly to the NW. Radar speed of object estimated at 1050 knots. The object disappeared instantaneously like a light being shut off. A Moon Dust Alert was involved. Length of observation was 7 minutes. (Dan Wilson, Sparks, McDonald list) March 10, 1961; RAF Upper Heyford, England, UK (BBU) At 9 p.m. local time, a very bright white or yellowish circular object was observed in the sky at about a 45 degree angle and appeared to be stationary. All the observers indicate that the light/object was very bright. The object was also picked up on ground radar and the radar observer said the object was moving very slowly. The object was described as orange size to basketball size. The object was observed visually for approximately 10 minutes and observed on radar for approximately 20 minutes. There was no air traffic or known balloon release in the vicinity. Among the observers were two Air policemen and a Contol Tower Operator. (Dan Wilson, Brad Sparks, McDonald list) March 16, 1961; Antarctica Meteorologist observed a fireball-like object, multi-colored, below overcast. [NICAP UFOE, VI] Spring 1961; Kemah, Texas (BBU 7321) Case missing. (Berliner) March 23-29, 1961; Fort Pierce, Florida (BBU) 9:45 p.m. Beechcraft pilot and passenger saw an intense bright light rise from 8,000 to 20,000 ft and accelerate. (McDonald list; cf. Project 1947) Several witnesses over several days reported seeing a strange bright light in the sky, sometimes hovering, sometimes moving rapidly from the hours around 10:10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. local time. The light was seen to bob up and down at times. Length of observation varied from 5 minutes to 1 hour. Type of observations: Ground-Visual, Air-Visual, and Ground-Radar. (Dan Wilson) April 9, 1961; Kingsville, Texas Round red UFO descended, hovered, sped away. [NICAP UFOE, XII] April 11, 1961; Cape Canaveral, Florida (BBU) At 9:57 a.m. local time, an object was picked up on ground radar at speeds from from 150 knots to 600 knots. The object orbited 6 or 7 times along an azimuth of 126 degrees and between 10 and 55 miles from the Cape. The length of the observation was 30 minutes. The UFO was picked up prior to launch of test number 1352, a Polaris Missile. (39 documents found) (Dan Wilson, McDonald list) April 14, 1961; Far East, NW of Mariana Islands [1834N 14257E] (BBU) At 2:36 p.m. local time four objects the size of a pinhead were picked up on air intercept radar. The radar blips were small and well defined.The length of the observation was approximately 10-15 minutes. (McDonald list) April 18, 1961; Eagle River, Wisc. (BBU) 11 a.m. Joe Simonton heard a whining sound and saw an object, 30 ft in diameter, 12 ft high, with exhaust pipes around the periphery, land near his house. A door opened and a man appeared, about 5 ft tall, wearing a black, turtle-neck pullover with a white band at the belt, and black trousers with a vertical white band along the side. Two other [?] figures were visible inside. Simonton filled a jug with water, returned it to the man, who gave him three ordinary pancakes, and the object took off. (Vallée Magonia 517) April 20, 1961; Hanna City AFS, Illinois (BBU) 6:20 p.m. CST. An object at an estimated altitude of 97,000 feet was picked up on a FPS-6A radar of the 791 Radar Squadron (SAGE) at a bearing of 96 degrees. The object disappeared after 1 hour and 4 minutes at 10,000 feet at a 95 degrees bearing. The object had been on a perpendicular descent with a 10 NM variation. (McDonald) April 24, 1961; 200 miles SW of San Francisco, Calif. (BBU 7359) 3:34 a.m. (PST). AEW&C Sq aircraft commander Capt. H. J. Savoy and navigator 1st Lt. M. W. Rand, on USAF RC-121D radar patrol plane at 11,000 ft saw reddish-white round object or light, similar to satellite or aircraft, angular size of pinhead at arm's length, moving W to E, tracked through sextant from 29°55' elevation 140° azimuth (SE) disappearing at the horizon at 50° (or 60° text barely legible) azimuth. No sound, no trail, weather clear, check for Echo satellite negative. (Berliner; Jan Aldrich-NICAP) April
25, 1961
U.S. Air Force Guidance Collection
Letter No.4, originally classified Confidential,
describes and provides guidance for project Moon
Dust reporting. Several items of interest appear in
the document: classification level of Moon Dust
Alerts and reports, focus of Moon Dust on "foreign
earth satellite vehicles," and destination agencies
for Moon Dust reports among them. (CUFON)
May 1961
Joint statement by 21 American Scientists released by
NICAP. Calls for open investigation of UFOs without
secrecy, the need for a more thorough investigation
shown by circumstantial evidence. States the Air Force
should have more straightforward information policy,
specifically to give out all facts on major UFO
sightings.
May (first week) 1961; Union Mills, Indiana Hemispherical UFO with "portholes", on road; took off as car approached. [NICAP UFOE, XII] May,11, 1961; Indian Springs, Nevada (BB) At 1128 hrs local (1828Z) a weather observer at Indian Springs, AFB noted an unusual object in the sky during a theodolite observation. It was tracked until 1400 hrs. Nellis AFB commenced tracking by theodolite from 1400 hrs. At 1500 hrs Nellis AFB intelligence saw the object through theodolite. At 1500 hrs the object was at an elevation of 31.9 degrees and an azimuth of 248.7 degrees as seen from Nellis AFB. The altitude of the object was estimated as 75,000 to 100,000 feet. It was said to be crescent shaped, and silver in color. At 1530 hrs, the 865 AC&W site at Angels Peak was queried but they were not tracking any objects. At 1600 hrs, AC&W radar tracked the object with scope photographs being taken. Nellis AFB ceased theodolite tracking at 1600 hrs local. At this time its elevation was 19 degrees, and azimuth 260 degrees. At 1700 hrs, the 865 advised they had picked up a total of 57 separate object sightings. The weather conditions at Nellis were a clear sky, ground temperature 84 degrees F; surface winds were 27-38 knots and it was dusty. Data on the upper air winds were only known to 50,000 feet. There were no known balloons in the area, yet the Director of Intelligence at Nellis stated ‘presumed to be a mother balloon device periodically launching other flying objects. Origin unknown.’ The final PBB conclusion was ‘Subsequent reports of similar sightings from same area attributed to U-2 type a/c.’ (Basterfield, Fold3; McDonald list.) May 19, 1961; About 7 miles W of Bay Minette, Alabama (BBU) 10:18 a.m. Man checking mast of a ship saw an oval aluminum or silver-like object with tapered edges reflecting sunlight to the NNE at 20° azimuth 60° elevation traveling to SSW at 200° azimuth 60° elevation, no sound or trail. (Hynek-CUFOS-Willy Smith files) May 19, 1961; Long Beach, Calif. Twelve shiny UFOs maneuvered erratically over the area at 3:50 p.m., with an odd fluttering motion; then two loud "skyquakes" were heard. [NICAP UFOE, XII] May 20, 1961; Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama (BBU) At 3:30 a.m. CST, an object oval in shape the size of a dime with a tail and silver colored, was sighted in the sky SE of the sunrise. Weather radar detected an object moving east at 150 knots. (McDonald list) May 20, 1961; Tyndall AFB, Florida (BBU) 2:50 a.m. local time. A round rusty-orange colored object was observed near the Drone Launching Area. The object moved up and down and would gain altitude rapidly. The object seemed to float. Four Air Policemen saw the object. RAPCON was painting the target that the Air Police at the launching site had called in. An F-102 fighter was scrambled to run on the object. The object was traveling at 2-4 mph and then up to 45 mph. The fighter was getting a sporadic paint on radar. A helicopter was scrambled due to the slowness of the object. An AF GCI radar also tracked the object between 2,000 and 10,000 feet. Total time of observation was approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. (UFOE, III; 85 pages of documents by Dan Wilson) May 22, 1961; Tyndall AFB, Florida (BBU 7417) 4:30 p.m. Mrs. A. J. Jones and Mrs. R. F. Davis saw big silver-dollar disc hover and revolve, then suddenly disappear. (Berliner) May 23, 1961; Bronson and Cross City, Florida At 5:05 a.m. EDT, a round or oval-shaped object with a green halo was observed moving ESE. The speed conformed to light aircraft. Object picked up at Cross City on AN/FPS-6A height finder at 6:00 a.m. EDT (1000Z) from then until dawn. Radar picked up object at 160 degrees at 45 miles & 8400 feet. Altitude varied from 6 to 10 thousand feet while being tracked. When target locked on, antenna would hunt violently. When moved a few degrees in either direction the hunting would stop. When hunting occurred the scope would be cluttered. Tracked for two hours. (Dan Wilson) May 25, 1961; Shepperton, Middlesex, England Domed UFO with "portholes." [NICAP UFOE, XII] May 29, 1961; Newark, Ohio Boy filmed unidentified light. [NICAP UFOE, VIII] June 2, 1961; Tampa, Florida (BBU) At 8:06 p.m. local time, two civilian witnesses, one a retired USN Commander, saw a star-like object, bluish red changing to white, high in the sky on a SE course of approximately 140 degrees from Tampa. This object or a similar object had been seen nightly on about the same flight path. The 660th Radar Station was called to check on the UFO and they reported a target on their height finder radar bearing 055 at 34,000 feet. Target moved up and down and remained in the same relative position. This object was still on the radar scope 5 June 61 and an F-102 was scrambled on the target. The aircraft reported contact but experienced ECM trouble and could not complete intercept due to jamming. Additional witnesses to the object were two tower operators of the 1928th AACS Det., MacDill AFB. An airman of the 660th AC&W Squadron also sighted the object. (McDonald list, tDan Wilson) June 2, 1961; Miyako Jima Air Station, Japan (BBU 7437) 10:17 p.m. 1st Lt. R. N. Monahan and Hazeltine Electric Co. technical representative D. W. Mattison saw a blue-white light fly erratic course at varying speed, in an arc-like path. (Berliner) June 4, 1961; Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.
A cigar-shaped or long elliptical UFO with a cluster of smaller UFOs was observed by a librarian. First motionless, the smaller objects then streaked across the sky to the large UFO and all vanished behind trees. [NICAP UFOE, VIII] June 19, 1961; Exeter, England A "flying object" was reported to have hovered for more than an hour above an airport. Officials said: "We do not know what it is. It was seen on the radar screen and we have had it under observation for some time. We think it is pretty big. It appears to be shining brightly and is about 50,000 feet up." [NICAP UFOE, VIII] June 25, 1961; Pacific Ocean (BBU)<> At 2200 hours local time, at 39 degrees 45'N - 127 degrees 33' W, approximately 250 miles NW of San Francisco, Calif., a Lockheed RC-121D aircraft of the 552nd AEW&C Squadron (Airborne Early Warning and Control) reported a radar sighting of two unidentified blips of unknown size on a heading generally N-S at an estimated speed of 4800 knots. These were tracked for approximately 3 minutes. (Dan Wilson, McDonald list) July 4, 1961; Akron, Ohio (BB) 10:15 p.m. EST. A glowing green and white object dove at a plane, stopped suddenly and climbed away at tremendous speed. (July 5, same pilot sighted similar object; also seen visually and tracked on radar at Cleveland airport). [NICAP UFOE, V] July 7, 1961; Copermish, Mich. (BBU 7491) At 11:00 p.m. local time (0400Z), waitress Nannette Hilley, near Copemish, [44:30N; 85:54W] saw a round object at 45 degrees’ elevation, 330 degrees’ azimuth. After 45 minutes, it split into four objects, which stayed in close formation. It appeared to be ‘very high’ and then came down low behind trees, and disappeared at 10 degrees’ elevation, 270 degrees’ azimuth. It was blue to red in colour. The total duration was one hour. Weather was high, thin, scattered clouds.(Basterfield, Fold3; Berliner; McDonald list; Sparks.) 11 p.m. Waitress Nannette Hilley saw a large ball fly slow, split into 4 after 45 mins flying close formation, descend, then fly away to the W. (Berliner) July 10, 1961; Golden, Colo. (BBU) (McDonald list) July 11, 1961; Springfield, Ohio (BBU 7499) 7:45 p.m. Ex-air navigator G. Scott, wife, and neighbors saw a round, bright light like shiny aluminum, pass overhead. (Berliner) July 17, 1961; 1 mile N of Bonny Spring Ranch [Bonnie Springs?] near Las Vegas, Nevada. (BBU) 2 a.m. On U.S. Highway 91 [95?], 2 civilians in a car saw in the rear-view mirror a low-flying object that overtook their car, followed by a rush of cold air. It stopped, circled the vehicle, flew off and was lost to sight behind the mountains, where it may have landed but exhaustive military investigation found no trace. (Vallée Magonia 521) July 20, 1961; Houston, Texas (BBU 7510) At 9:00 a.m. local time, Trans-Texas Airlines Capt. A. V. Beather, flying a DC-3, saw two very bright whte objects straight ahead of aircraft hovering between 6,000 and 7,000 feet over Bayton, Texas. The objects disappeared on a heading between 65 and 70 degrees at 10,000 feet. The objects followed an erratic flight path. They appeared to be traveling much faster than an aircraft. Weather radar showed small non-persistant blips on the scope in the general area of the sighting SW of Orange, Texas. These blips were apparently not ground clutter. (Berliner, Sparks, 42 pages of document by Dan Wilson) July 24, 1961; Ilha Grande, Brazil
An intensely luminous UFO maneuvered sharply around a VASP Airlines plane. [NICAP UFOE, X] Aug. 4,1961
Letter to NICAP member from Rep. Thomas W. Downing: "The
Bureau manager (of Newsweek) informs me that his
information indicates that an investigation of the UFO
phenomenon is being contemplated by the Science and
Astronautics Committee. The information that I was
provided indicates that Congressman Joseph E. Karth of
Minnesota may serve as Chairman of the three-man
Subcommittee." (See NICAP UFOE, Section XIII)Aug. 12, 1961; Kansas City, Kansas (BBU 7579) 9 p.m. College seniors J. B. Furkenhoff and Tom Phipps saw a very large oval object with a fin extending from one edge to the center, like a sled with lighted car running boards, which hovered at 50 ft altitude for 3-5 mins, then flew straight up and E, disappearing in about 5 secs. (Berliner; cf. Vallée Magonia 522) Aug. 17, 1961; Stillwater, Minn. A V-formation of yellowish lights (or V-shaped UFO with body lights) passed behind trees at low altitude. [NICAP UFOE, II] Sept. 2, 1961; Albuquerque, New Mexico (BBU) 4:40-4:50 p.m. (MST). Ziegler saw reflection of sun from a shiny surface moving erratically W to E from about 240° azimuth (about WSW) to 210° when it stopped and emitted several smaller silvery objects about 1/6 the size of the main object, then continued on to about 150° azimuth (about SSE) where it again stopped and emitted several silvery objects about 1/6 size then moved away and climbed to about elevation 50° until disappearance by fading. (Keith Basterfield; Project 1947; McDonald list; FUFOR Index) Sept. 7, 1961; Cape Canaveral, Florida (BBU) 8:37 p.m. local time. Object moving vertically in tracking scope during missile launch. Military source. AF evaluation: "...star Gamma Piscium.". (Hynek UFO Rpt p. 44) Hynek: "Gamma Piscium is a relatively faint star, and quite stationary. It is absurd to think that a person professionally qualified to track missile launches would be puzzled by one particular star out of a great many." (Brad Sparks, Dan Wilson) Sept. 13, 1961; Crawfordsville, Indiana 4:00 a.m. Three people reported a round, orange UFO which moved rapidly east to west, stopped and hovered for 5 minutes, then accelerated rapidly disappearing in the distance. [NICAP UFOE, XII] Sept. 19, 1961; North Concord AFS, Vermont At 5:22 local time, a return was picked up on an AN/MPS-14 height finder radar at 62,000 feet at 196 degrees at 84 miles. The target was the size of a large aircraft and appeared as a normal target. Contact was lost at 199 degrees at 80 miles going NW then south. Length of observation was 18 minutes. The target moved at a low speed on an erratic course. The location of observers was at 5 miles east of Claremont, New Hampshire. (Dan Wilson) Pease AFB has unidentified radar contact at 2:14 a.m. (Dan Wilson, Vallée Magonia 524, etc., NICAP UFOE, XIV) Sept. 19-20, 1961; Indian Head, New Hampshire (BBU) 11 p.m.-2 a.m. Barney and Betty Hill saw a lenticular object with a double row of portholes and half-a-dozen dark figures working at control panels inside, when they stopped to investigate a light following their car. They became afraid and drove away. A "beeping sound" enveloped the car, they felt a prickling sensation before losing consciousness. When they came to, they were driving near Ashland. A series of nightmares and medically controlled hypnosis brought back what apparently was the memory of their abduction by the occupants of the object. Sept. 19, 1961; Pease AFB, New Hampshire 2:14 a.m. Pease AFB has unidentified radar contact (Dan Wilson, Vallée Magonia 524, etc., NICAP UFOE, XIV) Sept. 21, 1961; Pacific Ocean, nr. Wake Island Airline pilots, ship, reported a bright white circular UFO. [NICAP UFOE, X] Sept. 27, 1961; Pacific Coast (BBU) 7:57 a.m. local time. Post landing CIRVIS Report by a AEW&C aircraft. Radar Operator sighted five objects on his scope. Four of the objects were on a heading of 90 degrees and while the other object was heading of (80 degrees?). All the objects were moving at a high rate of speed, and disappeared into sea clutter Three minutes later, two objects appeared heading 70 degrees and moved across the scope and also disappeared into sea clutter. Speed of one of the objects was measured at 1800 knots over a distance of 200 NM. While these two objects were on the scope a single stationary object appeared. After remaining stationary for approx. two minutes it moved on a heading of 265 degrees at 60 knots and was lost in the sea clutter at 1610Z. The objects could only be painted with IFF on. The radar was an APS-95. (Dan Wilson, McDonald list) Sept. 30, 1961; Las Vegas, Nevada (BBU) At around 9:04 a.m. local time, a weather
observer at Indian Springs AFB, Nevada, saw objects on a
20 power theodolite at 133.4 degrees azimuth, 55
degrees elevation. The observer first saw one
object white or metallic in color, round in shape
and the size of the head of a pin. Four smaller
objects traveling very fast came
from the first object. The 865th AC&W Squadron,
Las Vegas AFS, tracked a UFO on radar 45 miles
SE of Nellis AFB. Picked up on AZ scope only.
Object was tracked for approximately 45 minutes.
(McDonald)
Oct. 2, 1961; Salt Lake City, Utah Disc-shaped UFO maneuvered away from investigating aircraft. [NICAP UFOE, I] Oct. 12, 1961; Indianapolis, Indiana Spherical UFO with a row of pulsating lights viewed from many angles by different observers. [NICAP UFOE, XII] Oct. 21, 1961; Nr. Datil, N. Mex. Four lights paced car, maneuvered, shot away upward. [NICAP UFOE, II] Oct. 30, 1961; Ligonier, Penna. Engineer observed four luminous blue discs with bands of lights or "portholes" on outer periphery. [NICAP UFOE, I] On this date at Green Bank, W. Va.
Government (National Academy of Sciences) sponsored
secret discussions on space life, possibility of
communicating with other worlds. This discussion was
alluded to in the New York Times, February 4, 1962.
At 1:55 a.m. local time, several employees of the Martin Company and Army personnel observed three unusual radar returns on the long range radar. Three objects were observed approaching the Chicago area from ESE with 30 second separation at speeds in excess of 4000 knots. The radar return was very sharp. An attempt was made to determine the altitude of the objects but their speed was beyond the capability of the equipment. After the sightings the equipment was tested and found to be in perfect operating order. (Dan Wilson) (McDonald list) Nov. 21, 1961; Oldtown, Florida (BBU 7741) 7:30 p.m. C. Locklear and Helen Hatch saw a round, red-orange object fly straight up and fade. (Berliner) Nov. 22, 1961; Nr. Grafton, N.D. Metallurgist observed a hovering, grayish cigar-shaped UFO with "portholes". [NICAP UFOE, VI] Nov. 23, 1961; Sioux City, Iowa (BBU 7742) 9:30 p.m. F. Braunger saw a bright red star fly straight and level. (Berliner) Dec. 13, 1961; Washington, D.C. (BBU 7754) 5:05 p.m. C. F. Muncy, ex-U.S. Navy pilot W. J. Myers, and G. Weber saw a dark diamond-shaped object with a bright tip fly straight and level. (Berliner) |