Unidentified Flying Object Report - St. Louis, Missouri, July 1960

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (IR 21 60) dated 21 July 1960, concerning unidentified flying object sightings reported in St. Louis, Missouri, on the nights of 19 and 20 July 1960. The report details telephone calls received by the Base Clearance Officer from residents in University City, St. Louis, who observed mysterious red lights in the sky. Witnesses described the object as a round, bright red ball, approximately the size of a quarter, which hovered, moved slowly, and occasionally exhibited a 'zig-zag' motion. One witness, using a 120-power telescope, described the object as four bright red lights in a circular formation rotating around a central point. The sightings lasted between 20 and 30 minutes. The 1405th ABW (MATS) at Scott AFB investigated the reports by contacting Detachment 6 of the 10th Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron and the 798th AC&W Squadron. Both units reported no relevant radar activity at the time of the sightings. The U.S. Weather Bureau confirmed that no weather balloons were in the area. The report includes a supplement with detailed descriptions of the object's behavior, weather conditions, and observer information. The preparing officer, William Y. McPherson, noted that while the object's behavior suggested a balloon that might have burst at high altitude, the lack of corroborating evidence from the Weather Bureau and the specific descriptions provided by witnesses left the nature of the object undetermined. The report concludes that the headquarters was unable to identify the object and forwarded the information in accordance with AFR 200-2. An extract from the St. Louis Globe Democrat is included as an enclosure, providing additional accounts from local residents who observed the phenomenon.