Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting NNW of Lebreville, Africa

On August 22, 1960, at 1751Z, the crew of a C-124 aircraft (AF 17276) observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon while flying at 10,500 feet, located 85 nautical miles east-southeast of Principe Islands, off the coast of West Africa. The aircraft commander, Major Warren L. Carruthers, and 1/Lt James J. Wood reported seeing a round, orange object, approximately the size of a volleyball at arm's length. The object was first observed at a 12 o'clock position with 80 degrees elevation and moved in a southerly direction. After four seconds of observation, the object exploded in a brilliant flash at an estimated altitude of 20,000 to 30,000 feet. The explosion produced a bluish-green trail in an arc of approximately 20 degrees, which lasted for two seconds before transforming into a whitish-grey cloud. This cloud remained visible for nine minutes and was observed dissipating in the winds aloft. The crew reported no sound from the cockpit. The sighting was reported to Congo Airways and later to Sidi Airways. The aircraft commander, who possessed 11,000 flying hours, explicitly stated his belief that the object was not a meteor, comparing its appearance to the Soviet Sputnik. He suggested it might have been a missile off-course from a French missile range in North Africa. However, the official Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) analysis concluded that the object was likely a meteor, specifically a 'bolide.' The analysis noted that the apparent size, shape, and speed ruled out a missile, and that the description was consistent with a meteor entering the atmosphere during daylight hours, where the burning substance creates a trail and cloud not typically seen at night.