UFO seen near Oregon in 1961

Summary

In March 1961, a United Airlines pilot reported a round, white object the size of a half-dollar. The aircraft, a DC6B, was flying near Heppner, Oregon, when the object appeared at 30 degrees elevation and disappeared at 40 degrees. Witnesses noted slight movement, possibly mistaken for their own aircraft's motion. The report suggested the object could be Venus, located in the northwest, with the plane's movement misinterpreted. The object was not photographed, and observers didn't see it vanish as they flew into overcast.

The report classified the sighting as "possibly astronomical," pointing to a natural explanation. However, the lack of precise data like the object's azimuth and the confusion between actual and apparent motion leave questions open. This case, like many from the era, reflects the difficulty in distinguishing natural phenomena from unidentified objects, especially under nighttime and cloudy flight conditions.