PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
14 Mar 61 0 Was Balloon
3853N 795IW ELKINS, W.VA 00 Probably Balloon
DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Possibly Balloon
Local 0250 Ground-Visual Ground-Radar n Was Aircraft
00 Probably Aircraft
GMT_ 140750Z Air Visual Air-Intereept Radar Possibly Aireraft
5. 'PHOTOS 6. SOURCE Was Astronomical METEaR
Yes 080 Probably Astronomical
No Civilian PossiblyAstronomical
7. LENGTH OF.OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COURSE Other
000 Insufficient Data for Evaluation
5 min Unknown
1 NW-NE
10. BRIEF sUMMARY oF SIGHTING DarK objt with orange 11. commENTsObjt of this sighting has all
tail size of F-86 or F-94 and about 15' in characteristics of a meteor. There is nd
length. Observer length. Observer in a/c heading 268° 268°. Objt Objt evidence which would indicate that this
45° fwd of right wing when sighted. Disappeared objt was not a meteor. Was probably a
45° rear of right wing. Objt's altitude aprox 45° rear of right wing. Objt's altitude aprox meteor of "fireball" class and initial
60,000'. Speed extimate 5000 mph. experience of observer with type; there-
fore resulting in misidentification. It
is concluded that objt of sighting was
probably a metero. probably a metero.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
:

.. DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
AF IN : 46628 (14 Mar 61) STAFF F MESSAGE DIVISION
MESAGL
NNNN INCOMING
ACTION: CIN-14
INFO SMD AP-43
Amy
JC673
PP RJEZHQ
DE RJESKB 52
ZNR
P 142130Z
FM 32AIRDIV D0BBINS AFB GA FM 32AIRDIV D0BBINS AFB GA
TO RJWFAL/ADC ENT AFB COLO
RJEDSQ/ATIC WPAFB OHIO RJEDSQ/ATIC WPAFB OHIO
RJEZHQ/HQ USAF WASH DC
RJEZHQ/OSAF WASH DC
RJEDSQ/COSMATIC WPAFB OHIO
RJEZDK/PRO. LG HANSCOM FLD BEDFORD MASS
BT
UNCLAS 320IN 2791. HQ USAF FOR AFCIN AND AFCIN-1B1; OSAF
FOR SAFIS, COSMATIC FOR AFCIN-4A. SUBJ (U) MOON DUST. PAR 15, AFR
200-2: A, (1) DARK OBJECT; (2) NO ESTIMATE; (3) NONE; (4) ONE; (5)
N/A: (6) NONE; (7) ORANGE TAIL, SIZE AND SHAPE OF F-86 O)
ABOUT 15 FEET IN LENGTH; (8) NONE; (9) NONE; B.(1) JUST HAPPENED TO
Sf
BE LOOKING WHERE BE LOOKING WAERE TT, WAS SEEN; (2) OBSERVER IN ACFT HDG TWO SiX EIGHT IT WAS SEEN; (2) OBSERVER IN ACFT I HDG TWO SIX EIGHT
4 4 S
DEG DEG
REAR OF RIGHT WING. ALTITUDE OF OBJECT APPROX 60,000 FT; (4)
STRAIGHT NORTH WEST TO NORTH STRAIGHT NORTH WEST TO NORTH EAST; (5) JUST FADED AWAY. SPEED
EST IMATE 5000 MPH; (6) FIVE 5
EST IMATE 5000 MPH; (6) FIVE MIN. C,(1) AIR VISUAL; (2)NONE; - SUAL; (2) NONE;

": DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
AF IN : 46628 (14 Mar 61) STAFF MESSAGE DIVISION NRAD2EOG3
PAGE TWO RJESKB 52 INCOMING
(3) DC7-B; EASTER NR449, 18,000 FT, HDG 268 DEG, TAS 270KT, GNDSPD
MOON, STAR BACKGROUND, CLEAR ABOVE ACFT. E,(1) ACFT OVER ELKINS VOR
(38-53N 79-51W) OBJECT 25 T0 50 NM NORTH OF VOR. F, (1)
AGE 38, COPILOT EASTERN AIRLINES, C/O LA GUARDIA N.T.,
A-1. G,(I) SCATTERED TO BROKEN BELOW ACFT, CLEAR ABOVE ACFT.
SYNOPTIC SITUATION FOR 14 MARCH 1961 AT 0800Z LOW PRESSURE WAS
LOCATED LOCATED IN SOUTHERN MICH., MOVE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS. AN IN SOUTHERN MICH., MOVE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS. AN
OceLud ed
9::)7$3D FRONT EXTENDED FROM LOW SOUTH EASTWARD TO NORTHWESTERN 9::)7$3D D FRONT EXTENDED FROM LOW SOUTH EASTWARD TO NORTHWESTERN
WEST VA, THEN SOUTHWARD AS A COLD FRONT OVER CENTRAL WEST VA, EXTREME WEST VA, THEN SOUTHWARD AS A COLD FRONT OVER CENTRAL WEST VA, EXTREME
WESTERN VA, AND EASTERN TENN. FRONT WAS MOVING EASTWARD AT 18 KNOTS.
A WARM FRONT EXTENDED EASTWARD FROM NORTHWESTERN WEST VA, PASSING A WARM FRONT EXTENDED EASTWARD FROM NORTHWESTERN WEST VA, PASSING
NORTH OF ELKINS, THEN SOUTHWARD OVER WESTERN VA TO N.C.-VA BORDER,
THEN EASTWARD. THE WARM FRONT WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS.
CONDITIONS EAST AND NORTH OF WARM FRONT WERE 500 OVERCAST WITH
CLOUDS LAYERED TO 15000 AND 24000 OVERCAST TOPS 35000 ABOVE. VSBYS
1-3 IN LIGHT RAIN AND FOG. CONDITIONS WEST OF WARM FRONT (INCLUDES
AREA OF ERN WEST VA AND ELKINS AREA) WERE 35-70 BROKEN OVERCAST WITH
TOPS TO 12000-14000 AND 24000 BROKEN TOPS TO 35000 ABOVE. VSBYS 7
MILES OR BETTER. WINDS ALOFTS: SURFACE 170DEGREES/08 KNOTS/PLUS 9DEGREES
T.

", DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
AFIN 46628 Mar 61) STAFF BARGB DOASIOB
LONC.L SIFIED MESSAGE
1N
PAGE THREE RJESKB 52
2DEGREES C, 16000 240DEGR KNOTS- 15DEGREES C, 20000 240 DEGREES/60
/55 KNOTS-59DEGREES C, 80000 NOT AVAILABLE.
ELKINS 0800Z WEATHER REPORT. E 70 BROKEN 7, SSE 5. SOME LIGHT
RAIN SHOWERS WERE OCCURING IN EXTREME NORTHEASTERN WEST nain snowens weR ooe VA LOWERING
00. HTI RECT OR
INTELLIGENCE INTELLIGENCE 32D AIR DIVISION; COMMENTS: NONE; L. NONE). VISION; COMMENTS: NONE; L. NONE). 2
BT
14/2 138Z MAR RJESKB 14/2138Z MAR RJESKB