PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD - 25 JUN 60

On June 25, 1960, at 0846Z, the crew of a WV-2 aircraft (BUNO 143202) assigned to DET ALFA AEWBARRONPAC observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon in the vicinity of Midway Island at coordinates 32-48N 175-15W. The witnesses, a pilot with 24 months of experience on the Barrier mission and a co-pilot with 6 months of experience, described the object as a greenish-yellow, extremely brilliant ball that left a trail across the sky. The object was traveling at an extremely high speed from west to east. It appeared 45 degrees above the horizon and disappeared approximately 15 degrees above the horizon, separating into two pieces immediately prior to burnout. The intensity of the light increased steadily until the object burned out. The total duration of the visual observation was 5 to 8 seconds. The weather conditions were reported as clear with visibility over 60 miles. Both pilots explicitly stated that the object did not resemble any shooting star they had previously seen. The report was filed as a CIRVIS report and processed under Project 10073. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was that the object was an astronomical meteor, noting that the description and duration of the sighting compared favorably with data from previous 'fireball' sightings.