1964 UFO purple object falling into atmosphere

Summary

A purple-colored object was observed in January 1964 by a pilot who described it as larger than a meteorite. The object entered the atmosphere at a 45-degree angle and disintegrated at 10,000 feet, breaking into five pieces. Although initially considered a meteor, later reports leaned more toward a satellite decay. The event occurred at coordinates 31.35N 175.50W, and no photographs were taken of the phenomenon.

Air Force analyses concluded it was not a balloon, aircraft, or known astronomical event. The unusual purple color was still within known reports. Despite incomplete data, the pilot's description was consistent with satellite decay. The case was classified as such, though a meteor could not be entirely ruled out.