Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record Card — Tarawa Island, 8 January 1961
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AI-Generated Summary
A sighting of a bright green, red-tailed object over Tarawa Island on January 8, 1961, was investigated by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). The object was officially identified as a meteor of the fireball class.
This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated military communications regarding an aerial sighting on January 8, 1961, over Tarawa Island in the Pacific. The sighting, reported by local natives, involved a single, very bright green object with a red tail. The object was observed for approximately five seconds at 1841 local time, moving at high speed from east to west below cumulus clouds. The report notes that the object burned out. Military communications, specifically a cable from HEDUSAF Washington D.C. to ATIC at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, confirm the details of the sighting, noting it occurred at Nukunau. The official evaluation concluded that the object was a meteor of the fireball class. The investigators noted that there were no satellite re-entries at the time and that the description and duration were consistent with meteor showers common during that time of year. The document includes a classification cancellation stamp dated January 3, 1968, indicating the records were downgraded to unclassified status.
Very bright green firey object with red tail. Very high speed below cumulus clouds. Burned out.
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Official Assessment
There were no satellites re-entering at this time. Description and duration is characteristic of a meteor. There have been many reports of individuals sighting objects very similar to this one, and they invariably turn out to be meteors showers that occur this time of year. Although the info reported is limited, it appears that the witnesses observed a meteor of the fireball class.
The object was identified as a meteor of the fireball class.