USAF record 28987665

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

MULTIPLE 1. DATE: 6 Jul 60 2. LOCATION: Misawa, Japan 3. DATE-TIME GROUP: Local 0120 GMT 05/1600Z 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Ground-Visual [REDACTED] Ground-Radar [REDACTED] Air-Visual [REDACTED] Air-Intercept Radar [REDACTED] 5. PHOTOS: Yes 6. SOURCE: Civilian 7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION: 5 min

CONCLUSIONS: Was Balloon Possibly Balloon Was Aircraft Possibly Aircraft Was Astronomical Possibly Astronomical

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING: The round object appearing as a white luminous cloud at estimated 36,000 ft observed to move at a slow rate of speed from NW to SE. Cloud appeared to spread at the center, at which time a bright reddish-orange ball appeared with flames shooting out from the sides. Assumed the shape of a donut and retained this configuration while drifting on a course due E of Misawa. Amateur astronomer with group observing phenomena at first assumed object to be spiral nebula.

NUMBER OF OBJECTS: one COURSE: NW-SE

PROBABLE CAUSE OF THIS SIGHTING WAS A weather balloon which reached an altitude sufficient to cause it to explode and the following phenomena attributed to water vapor released at the time of explosion. The cloud was illuminated by the moon, which itself was 85% illuminated. Wind direction conforms to direction of the object.

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