Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting Report 20 March 1961

On March 20, 1961, at 210412Z, the crew of an RC-121 aircraft, identified as 'Ethan 51', observed two unidentified objects while flying at an altitude of 11,500 feet over the Pacific Ocean at coordinates 36-17N 125-47W. The sighting lasted approximately five seconds. The witnesses described the first object as oval-shaped and the second as pencil-shaped, approximately five inches long. The objects were observed to be white in color, turning orange just before they disappeared. The long object followed the shorter one closely, and the second object was noted to be tapered at the rear. The flight path was described as a straight descent at an approximate 10-degree angle. The weather conditions were reported as clear with unlimited visibility. The incident was documented as an after-landing report in accordance with AFR 200-2 format. While the Chief of Intelligence for the 552nd AEW&C Wing suggested the possibility of a re-entry of an earth satellite, the official Project 10073 record card concludes that the witnesses likely observed a meteor that had broken apart during its descent.