Gulf of Mexico 1960, Radar picked up object at 13,000 mph

Summary

In January 1960, a B-52 aircraft in the Gulf of Mexico recorded an object on its radar traveling at an estimated speed of 10,000 to 14,000 miles per hour. The object appeared on two radar scopes at a distance of 60 nautical miles and moved on a collision course with the aircraft. Observers, including the navigator and radar officer, saw it pass through the center of the radar and disappear almost instantly. Although the object was not detected by ground radars, it was considered possible that it was an anomalous propagation phenomenon or interference from the aircraft's radar system. The report was submitted to the ATIC for evaluation.

The investigation included consultations with radio astronomers and meteorologists, who suggested there might have been tropospheric conditions scattering the ground radar signal. However, no precise range readings were obtained, and no nearby ground radars were confirmed. The report concluded that there was insufficient data to determine the nature of the object, but conventional explanations like balloons or aircraft were ruled out. The case remains unresolved, highlighting the complexity of radar reports during the Cold War era.