Blue white flash seen in the Pacific

Summary

An officer and a lookout aboard the USNS Harris County observed a blue white flash in the Pacific on October 23, 1961. The object had no discernible shape and left a vapor-like trail. The witnesses assumed it was a meteor due to its appearance and duration of around three seconds. Although the sighting was recorded, no correlations with other reports were found at the time. The crew paid no further attention, considering it a common astronomical phenomenon.

The naval report classifies the event as likely a bolide, a rock burning as it enters the atmosphere. The observers, an officer of the watch and a sailor, accurately described the phenomenon's appearance, supporting the conclusion that it was not an unidentified object. The remote location of the sighting, in the middle of the Pacific, and the lack of other testimonies or technical data prevented further detailed evaluation. The case was filed without the need for additional investigations.