USAF record 28991231

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE 27 Jan 61

2. LOCATION 10 mi SW of Russell and between Russell and Salina, Kansas

3. DATE-TIME GROUP Local 2334 GMT 2805342

4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Ground-Visual [HW: Ground-Radar] Air-Visual [HW: Air-Intercept Radar]

5. PHOTOS No

6. SOURCE Military and Civilian

7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 15 Sec.

8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 1

9. COURSE Descending

10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING Large, round, green ball appeared in SW. Disappeared downward. Witnesses heard explosion.

11. COMMENTS Witnesses were separated by approx 70 NM and all saw the same object at the same time, which indicates object must have been at very high altitude. Description and duration is characteristic of a meteorite. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion. Some meteors called bolides enter the earth's atmosphere, almost reach the earth's surface and explode. The explosion is so intense that it can be heard for miles. These types of meteors are fairly rare; and when they are seen and heard, startle average observer.

12. CONCLUSIONS Was Balloon [STAMP: Possible Balloon] Probably Balloon [STAMP: Possible Balloon] Was Aircraft [STAMP: Possibly Aircraft] Probably Aircraft [STAMP: Possibly Aircraft] Possibly Meteor