UFO sighted at Adair AFS in 1961

Summary

In February 1961, an officer at Adair AFS, Oregon, observed a bright star-like object. The object appeared suddenly at an elevation of 40 degrees and remained stationary for 20 minutes without moving. Although initially puzzling, analysts concluded it was likely Mars, which was very bright at that time of year. The object disappeared without a clear explanation, but it was thought to be due to clouds moving between the observers and the planet. The lack of movement and its size, similar to a pencil eraser, supported this theory.

The official report marked the observation as probably astronomical, ruling out other possibilities such as balloons or aircraft. Despite the apparent simplicity of the case, the fact that it was recorded in a classified document shows the seriousness with which such incidents were treated at the time. The later declassification allows us today to review this event calmly, which could have generated some alarm back then.