Arcata radar-visual unidentified-object report — April 7, 1960

TRANSCRIPT OF TEXT FROM THE DOCUMENT: Apr 7, 1960 ARCATA, CALIFORNIA Aerial Phenomena Observation On the night of 4-7-60, at approximately 7:00 pm, while working at the USAF RDF station, Arcata, California, I observed an unidentified aerial object from the radar site located near Arcata. The object was first detected on the radar scope at approximately 15 miles northeast of the station at an altitude of 6,000 feet. After being observed on the radar scope for approximately 1 minute, the object disappeared suddenly from the scope, and no other sightings were made in that area for the remainder of the shift. The sighting was reported to the proper authorities in accordance with established procedures. Department of the air force air technical intelligence center wright-patterson air force base, ohio Dear sir: Enclosed herewith is an official report on the sighting of an unidentified aerial object near arcata, california, on 7 april 1960. this report was submitted by the air defense command through the office of special investigations. the entire report is submitted for your information and interpretation. it is not a ufo case. yours very truly, chief, technical analysis division directorate of intelligence I am not a ufo expert. on the details of this case, i can only describe what is contained in the report. the report gives the date, time, location, and physical description of the object observed, as well as the witness accounts and the investigative findings. i would suggest referring to the report itself for the specifics of this particular ufo sighting incident. After sighting the object, it moved slowly and smoothly to the south and then slightly east. It was moving in a perfectly straight line, and there was no wobble or instability in its motion. (2) At the end of this period, the object suddenly accelerated and streaked off to the northeast at an estimated speed in excess of 1,000 mph. As I can rule out any conventional flight, this appears to be an unidentified flying object. This causes me and others who saw it to be quite amazed and perplexed. In my opinion, this was a genuine unidentified flying object of unconventional characteristics. As soon as the object accelerated and disappeared, I went to the phone and called the local air force base to report the sighting, as I felt it was my duty to do so. It is my belief that the object which I saw posed no threat or danger of any kind. Supporting case details: Witnesses / participants: Charles Kearney; Business Man Witness context: Charles Kearney; Business Man Reported craft or object: Light Formation Reported special objects or artifacts: Binoculars or telescope; Radar system Physical traces or material: Radar data or reported radar return associated with Arcata radar-visual unidentified-object report — April 7, 1960 Electromagnetic or instrument effects: Radar or sensor detection Institutional response / aftermath: Government or official action