 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 This is a 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_________________________________________________________ Sometime in 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. 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) (McDonald list) Feb. 23, 1961; Misawa AFB, Japan (BBU) (McDonald list) Feb. 26, 1961; Tyndall AFB, Florida (BBU) (McDonald list) Feb. 27, 1961; Yuma, Ariz.(BBU) (McDonald list) Feb. 27, 1961; Herndon, Virginia (BBU) (McDonald list) 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. 28, 1961; Waverly AFB, Iowa (BBU) (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) (McDonald list) March 10, 1961; RAF Upper Heyford, England, UK. (BBU) (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 22 [23-29?], 1961; Ft. 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) April 9, 1961; Kingsville, Texas Round red UFO descended, hovered, sped away. [NICAP UFOE, XII] April 11, 1961; Cape Canaveral, Florida. (BBU) (McDonald list) April 14, 1961; Far East. (BBU) (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) (McDonald list) 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)
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 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) (McDonald list) May 20, 1961; Tyndall AFB, Florida (BBU) Morning. USAF fighter and helicopter pilots with 4756th Air Police Sq. saw a maneuvering white-orange round object, disappearing when the fighter approached. Ground radar tracking. (Project 1947; BB files??) Air Police observed unidentified light diving and climbing. [NICAP UFOE, Ill] 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 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) (McDonald list) 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) (McDonald list) July 5, 1961; Akron, Ohio 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; Copemiah, Mich. (BBU 7491) 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) 9 a.m. (CDT). Trans-Texas Airlines Capt. A. V. Beather, flying a DC 3, saw 2 very bright white lights fly in trail formation. Ground radar report vague. (Berliner) 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. (Project 1947; McDonald list; FUFOR Index) Sept. 7, 1961; Cape Canaveral, Florida (BBU) 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." 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. 19-20, 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 Pease AFB had an unidentified radar contact at 2:14 a.m. (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) (McDonald list) Sept. 30, 1961; Las Vegas, Nevada (BBU) (McDonald list) 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] Nov. 1961; Green Bank, W. Va.
Government (National Academy of Sciences) sponsored secret discussions
on space life, possibility of communicating with other worlds. (New
York Times; February 4, 1962)Nov. 7, 1961; Arlington Heights, Illinois (BBU) (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) |