Meteor observed in the Pacific in 1963

Summary

A military officer reported a yellow-orange object with a flaming trail that appeared in the Pacific sky in November 1963. The sighting occurred at high altitude, near 37°N 173°W, and lasted between 3 to 4 seconds. The object was moving southwest, and while initially considered a balloon or aircraft, it was ultimately classified as an astronomical meteor. This case was recorded under Project 10073, an Air Force initiative to gather data on unidentified phenomena. The report was distributed to multiple military and intelligence agencies, including the CIA, reflecting the widespread interest in UFO reports during the Cold War.