Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting of 20 Feb 61

On February 20, 1961, at 210105Z, a sighting of an unidentified aerial object was reported by J.S. Erihio, the master of a vessel, and five crew members. The object was observed at coordinates 2815N 7741W, approximately 150 nautical miles east of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The witnesses described the object as being one foot in diameter, amber-colored, and circular in shape. It was observed bearing 250 degrees True, rising rapidly into the sky, and setting at 070 degrees True. The object was described as having two wings forming a parabola, with the main body in the center. The observation lasted approximately 90 seconds, and no sound was heard during the event. The report was transmitted via a staff message to various military commands, including CINCONORAD and the Air Defense Command. An official evaluation of the incident concluded that the object was a Titan missile. The investigation noted that a Titan missile had been launched at 0100Z on the same day, and the flight path reported by the witnesses was consistent with the trajectory of the missile.