Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting of 16 Feb 61

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding an unidentified radar track observed on February 16, 1961. The incident occurred at 2245 local time (170345Z) in the Atlantic region at coordinates 3635N 6745W. The sighting was made by the crew of an RC-121D aircraft (tail number NBR50118) using APS-95 radar equipment. The crew, including Captain Henry R. Bilz and radar personnel Robert J. Simko, John C. Basarab, and Robert E. Franke, reported an abnormally large blip on the radar that appeared on a 270-degree magnetic heading and disappeared on the same heading after a slight arc. The object was estimated to be traveling at 4,500 knots and was observed for approximately 1 to 3 minutes. No visual sighting was made. The report was initially evaluated as having insufficient data due to the lack of elevation information and other pertinent details. A subsequent internal Air Force memorandum dated May 9, 1961, reviewed the incident, noting that while a reentry body or meteorite was considered a possibility if the target were real, the large size of the blip was inconsistent with such objects. The memorandum also referenced other reports, including one from the 864th ACW Squadron in Yuma, Arizona, suggesting that chaff exercises might explain some radar anomalies. The document concludes that the specific incident of February 16, 1961, remained categorized as having insufficient data.