PROJECT BLUE BOOK

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PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD i* -- 14.
1. DATE 2 LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
0 Was Balloon
18 Aug 59 Terre Haute, Indiana 00 Probably Balloon
DATE-TIME GROUP 4TYPE OF OBSERVATION Possibly Balloon
Local1370 Ground-Visual Ground-Radar 0 Was Aircraft
Probably Aircraft
GMT 18/1910Z Aug 59 AirVisual Air-Intercept Radar 0 Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical
Ys CXI Probably Astronomical MeteOr
D No Civilian 0 Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COURSE Other
000 Insufficient Data for Evaluation
SE-NW Unknown
sev mins 1
T0. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
Obj sighted at zeneth of its angular fligit. Info is very: limited, however ATIC
Calculated apparent velocity was 120,000 mph&
a height was probably a bolide.
the observation a noise was heerd which wouli: the observation a noise was heerd which WOLLLA
resemble frying. Obj wns shell like in shapp
& traveled directly over LAT 39°28'O0" &
LONG 87°26'0O" SE-NW. No trai1 LONG 87°26'O0" SE-NW. No trail or impact or impact
noise. Flash was detected.
ATIC FORM ATIC FORM 37 26 SEP 52) 26 SEP 52)
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To

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
GREENBELT. MARYLAN D
NOLL GRANITE 4-9000 TWX: BYN MD 86
U. S. T
IN REPLY REFER TO
Theoretical Division
8719 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, Maryland March 9, 1961
fl
A
Terre Indiana lox
Dear
The object which traveling at an
angular velocity such that its apparent velocity was about l mile
per hour for every foot of height. It would therefore reach an
ordinary meteoric velocity of perhaps 120,000 miles per hour at a
height of 120,000 feet or 24 miles, which is a reasonable height
for a meteor.
A satellite on the other hand at this height would be moving
only about 18,000 miles per hour; and the same would true for
objects of the described.
If it were a meteor, then it is interesting that you should
have heard l a noise. Ordinarily, noises could not be propagated o-
ver distances such as 24 miles in less than about 120 seconds, or
2 minutes. I By this time, the meteor should have been long gone.
On the other hand, objects of the type whichyou seem to be describ-
ing, accompanied by a noise heard at the same time (which is some-
times described as "like that of frying") have been reported before.
See for example Nininger's book, "Out of Sky", page 55. If you
are sure that the noise was heard at the moment the object t passed
overhead, it might be worthwhile recording--perhaps a brief let-
ter to some journal.
Sincerely yours,
Fchn A Okuhe
John A. O'Keefe
Assistant Chief
Theoretical Division
JAO:jer

Dear Sir:
on in August 18,1959 recording
in some journal.
At 19h lOm G.C.T., on the above date,an object was sighted at
the zeneth of its angular flight. The calculated apparent veloeity was
120,000 miles per hour and a helght of l20,000 feet. At the same time of
was shell like in shape and was shell like in shaps and -
LONG. 87° 26' 00" South - East LONG. 87° 26' 00" South - East to North - West. No trail North - West. No trail noise
Flash was detected.
Sincerely
1

SCIENCE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
1515 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON 5. D.C. • DUPONT 7-7171
22 March 1961
Mr
Dear
Thank you for your letter of March 14 in
which you describe seeing an object of unknown
origin. As you know, there are a good many such
sightings each year, and you should write not to
us but to the United States Air Force, Section on
Unidentified Flying Objects, Washington 25. D.C.
I am accordingly returning your letter.
Sing
Enclosure
am sending the entrie hig t you

the Center agrees with the conclusion offered by NASA that the object
observed was probably a bolide. Bolides are those very bright meteors
which are seen or heard to explode. Portunate
enough to serve
It is ATIC's opinion that the meteor observed by the witness was
overtaking the earth at an angle of 75 degrees to the
plane of the ecliptie. This angle would be necessary give the meteor
the SE to NW path as reported. As a result of the angle, the true
velocity of the meteor in the ecliptic plane was approximately 40 Km
the true velocity normal to the ecliptic
was 10.75 Km (6.7 milesper second. The earth's orbital velocity of
29.7 Km (18.5 miles) per second, subtracted from the meteor's velocity
relative velocity than that repor by the witness.
Since there was report of the duration sighting, it
must be pointed out that long duration "flights recorded.
The record 1s that of a meteor which lasted for 9oll Km (5,650 miles
at an average velocity of 8 Km (5 miles) per second. This meteor
would have taken 18.3 minutes to complete this flight (Journal Royal
Astronomical Soeiety, Canada, Volume Seven, page 145, 1913). Slow

long time, it is possible that the sound reached the witness shortly
after the meteor disappeared from sight. Experiencing such a sight
is rather startling g and it is possible that the witness was unabla
to recall a time lag aceur of sound.
would 1iko to that you GUPT
who is conducting exter Us  sasu class.
His address: His address:
1 n an
Pennsylvania
I hope you I hope y ne abor ove helpful. ove helpful.
Sincerely,
WILLLAM T. COLOMAN
Major, USAF
Public Information Division
Office of mation

b. Letter to Science, AAAS from Mr
lining general information concerning his sighting of an unidentified
flying object on 18 August 1959.
c. Letter to Ir AAAS, dated March
gesting that M t
2. The information concerning Mr sighting, reference lb, is very
limited; however, ATIc agrees with the conclusion of NASA that the object
observed by Mr on August 1959 was probably a bolide. Bolides are
those very briget teors explode.
3. Very sighting, and that
which is provided is very rough However, it is the ATIC opinion that the
meteor observed by the witness was overtaking the earth et an angle of
The earth's orbital velocity of 29.7 Km (18.5 miles) per second subtracted
from the meteor's velocity of lo.45 Km (6.5 miles) per second. The overall
relative velocity of the meteor was 14.95 Km (9.33 miles) pe r second.
Unless the meteor entered the atmosphere parallel to the tangent at the
witnesses location the apparent velocity would be further reduced by the -
cosine of the angle e between the tangent line and the meteor's real path.
It is concluded that the meteor viewed by Mr
slower reletive velocity than that by witness.
4. did not report the duration of his experience, but long dura-
tion mector flights have been recorded. The longest recorded flight is
that of a meteor which lasted for 90ll Km (5650 miles) at an average
velocity of 8km (5 miles) per second. This meteor vould have taken 18.8
minutes to complete this flight (Journal Roynl Astronomical Society,

a.s
5. Since Mr sighting probably lasted a relatively long time, it
is possible that"*the sound reached him shortly after the meteor disappeared
from sight. Experiencing such a sight is rather startling and possible
that the witness was unable to recall a time lag between the sighting and
the occurrence of sound.
be forwarded the address of
class.
7. The a addresses
S
FOR THE FOR
for $
HILIP G. EVANS IILIP G.EVANS 3 Atch: 3 Atch:
Colonel, USAF 1. Fax cy 1tr NASA, 9 Mar 61
Deputy for Science and Components 2. Fax cy ltr to Science,
14 Mar 61
3. Fax cy ltr fr Science,
22 Mar 61
2