Project 10073 Record Card — Biggs AFB, Texas, 1 July 1960

On 1 July 1960, at approximately 0346Z, three airmen from the 95th Combat Defense Squadron at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas, reported a sighting of four unidentified aerial objects. The witnesses, identified as Airman Third Class Thomas J. Snow, Airman Second Class Charles W. White, and Airman Ned H. Winch Jr., were located near an active runway where a T-33 aircraft was performing a takeoff roll. The witnesses described the objects as being the size of a baseball, diamond-shaped, and lacking any distinguishable color. The objects were observed in a formation moving along a northwesterly to southeasterly flight path. A notable feature of the objects was a fire trail, described as being twice as long as the objects themselves, which appeared dark red near the object and transitioned to a white, glowing neon appearance as it extended behind the objects. The observation lasted between five and ten seconds. Just prior to their instantaneous disappearance toward the southeast, the objects appeared to separate. Major James W. Amis, the investigating officer, conducted an inquiry shortly after the incident. While he noted that the information provided by the witnesses appeared reasonably reliable, he did not observe the objects himself. Instead, he observed several meteor trails during his investigation. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center was that the witnesses likely observed a meteor in its first stages of disintegration. The report notes that while the duration of the sighting was considered excessive for a meteor, this discrepancy was attributed to the inexperience of the witnesses. No radar contact was made, and no optical aids were utilized during the observation.