Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting Report 1 March 1963, Germany

On March 1, 1963, at 1817Z, the crew of a Pan American Airlines flight (Clipper) observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon while flying at 10,000 feet over Germany, specifically 17 miles from the Mansbach beacon. The object was described as long and rectangular, appearing bright white with a bluish-green tinge. Its brightness was estimated to be two to three times that of Venus. The middle of the object appeared dark, and it exhibited no tail or trail. The object was first noticed 50 degrees to the left of the aircraft's nose at an elevation of 70 degrees. It traveled in a straight path downward with a very slight curve, initially moving slowly before gaining significant momentum. The total duration of the sighting was two to three seconds, after which the object disappeared instantaneously. No impact with the Earth was observed. The pilot, copilot, and engineer all confirmed the sighting. The weather conditions were reported as a clear night with excellent visibility. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency was that the description and duration of the event conformed to the characteristics of a meteor.