Unidentified object seen near Misawa AB Japan 1961

Summary

In March 1961, an observer at Misawa Air Base in Japan sighted an unidentified object traveling from south to north. The object appeared at an azimuth of 113 degrees and disappeared at 73 degrees due to cloud cover. The witness, a reliable weather officer, described a pulsating orange flame and a contrail-like appendage that quickly evaporated. The observer was certain it was not a misidentified aircraft navigation light.

The object was observed for approximately 13 seconds, and the report was classified as confidential by higher headquarters. Despite detailed observations, no clear conclusion was reached about the object's nature. Several possibilities were considered, including aircraft and astronomical phenomena, but no conventional explanation proved satisfactory.