PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD - Sighting Report 10 June 1961

On June 10, 1961, at 1118Z, the Master of the SS KOREAN BEAR, operated by Pacific Far East Lines, observed an unidentified aerial object while taking evening stars at coordinates 19.25N 116.20E. The object was described as having a brilliancy identical to that of Jupiter. It was initially observed at an altitude of 60 degrees on a bearing of 320 degrees. The object moved directly overhead, emitting fire and fragments, and continued on a course bearing 140 degrees. The observation lasted for approximately 11 minutes, ending when the object disappeared behind a heavy cloud formation with a brilliancy of a 1st magnitude star. The sighting was witnessed and confirmed by two other officers on the vessel. The report was formally forwarded by J. M. David, Commander of the U.S. Naval Defense Forces Eastern Pacific, to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on July 20, 1961. In the accompanying comments, it was noted that the Master of the vessel is a sincere and intelligent individual with a history of providing reliable information. The report notes that the object's behavior appeared similar to the Echo satellite in its orbit direction, but it did not reappear, leaving the event categorized as having insufficient data for evaluation.