UFO seen at high speed in 1961

Summary

A large orange and white object was observed breaking up and trailing flame and debris. The sighting lasted about 5 seconds, with the object traveling at high speed from a 35-degree elevation toward the horizon in direction 130 degrees. Despite the clear description from the witness, no reentries were recorded on that date, leading investigators to consider it a meteor. The event's duration and observed characteristics matched typical bolide features, supporting the evaluation as an astronomical phenomenon.

The sighting occurred at coordinates 44°21'N 128°01'W and was classified as an astronomical observation. Although other possibilities such as balloons or aircraft were considered, the final evaluation concluded there was insufficient data to determine the object's nature with certainty. This case is part of the files from Project 10073, a U.S. Air Force program dedicated to investigating UFO sightings.