28991092.pdf

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

|  1. DATE | 16 Jan 61 | 2. LOCATION | Southern Calif. | 12. CONCLUSIONS | ☐ Was Balloon ☐ Probably Balloon ☐ Possibly Balloon ☐ Was Aircraft ☐ Probably Aircraft ☐ Possibly Aircraft  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  3. DATE-TIME GROUP | Local GMT 16/2400Z | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION | ☑ Ground-Visual ☐ Air-Visual ☐ Ground-Redor ☐ Air-Intercept Redor | ☐ Was Aircraft ☐ Probably Aircraft ☐ Possibly Aircraft | ☐ Was Astronomical ☐ Probably Astronomical ☐ Possibly Astronomical  |
|  5. PHOTOS | ☐ Yes ☑ No | 6. SOURCE | Civilian | ☐ Other ☐ Insufficient Data for Ev…

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NAVAL MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED NAVY DEPARTMENT

|  PRECEDENCE | (ACTION) | RELEASED BY | DRAFTED BY | EXT. NO.  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  PRIORITY |  |  |  |   |
|  PRECEDENCE | (INFO) |  |  |   |

P 170605Z AF IN: 48122 (17 Jan 61) D/apc
FM SOP SANTA BARBARA-VENTURA AREA AF DISTR:
TO COM ELEVEN DIO CIN-14
INFO CNO COP-2
SAFS-3
(20)

UNCLAS.

A. COM ELEVEN INST 3820.1A

B. SOP PORT HUENEME-POINT MUGU-SANTA BARBARA AREA INST 3820.1

1. A. PROBABTLY EGG SHAPE

B. FOOTBALL SIZE

C. BLUE IRRIDESCENT COLOR

D. ONE

E. N/A

F. NONE

G. PARTS BRAKING OFF-LONG RED FIERY TAIL WITH WHITE…

NAVAL MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED NAVY DEPARTMENT
|  PRECEDENCE (ACTION) | RELEASED BY | DRAFTED BY | EXT. NO.  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  PRECEDENCE (INFO) |  |  |   |

C. BEHIND BLDGS, ANGLE OF ELEV 20 DEG, WNW OF CAMARILLO, CALIF.
D. DESCENDING FROM EAST TO WEST AT ABOUT 60 DEG ANGLE
E. BEHIND VISIBLE HORIZON
F. 2 SEC.
3. A. GROUND VISUAL
B. NONE
C. N/A
4. A. 162400Z
B. LATE DUSK
5. APPROX POSIT-LATITUDE 34-12N LONGITUDE 119-02W
6. A. NONE-INQUIRIES REFERRED TO USAF
B. SUDDRETH, J. M., LCDR, USN., PILOT, VERY RELIABLE
7. A. SKY CLEAR, SMOKE LAYERS NW OVER MOUNTAINS UP TO 6000 FT. 1800U
PT MUGU…

NAVAL MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED NAVY DEPARTMENT
PRECEDENCE (ACTION) | RELEASED BY | DRAFTED BY | EXT. NO.
| | |
PRECEDENCE (INFO) | | |

9. NONE
10. 3 JET ACFT, 2 SNB ACFT LOCAL AREA VFR FROM NAS PT MUGU
11. O.O.D. NAS PT MUGU-PROBABLY A METEOR. OBSERVER STATED IT
DEFINITELY WAS NOT AN ACFT FLARE
12. NONE

NOTE: Advance copy delivered to CIN (170445L)

|  CONTROL NO. | CIRCUIT NO. | PAGE OF PAGES | TIME OF RECEIPT | DATE TIME GROUP  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  151 |  | 3 | 3 | 170605Z JAN 61  |

UNCLASSIFIED

1961

# FIREBALL CAUSES NEAR-PANIC IN CALIFORNIA:

In a widely-publicized incident last January 16th, a brilliant fireball was seen by thousands of people from San Diego to San Francisco, and as far as 300 miles inland in Nevada. The object was in view about 18 seconds, and was described in many different ways by the people who saw it. Inquiries from frightened citizens swamped police and newspaper switchboards throughout the area. The sighting brought about a series of panicky reports that fires were raging in large portions of the state, caused by falling embers. Other reports, all later pro…