40mi Wof Santa Rosa Island radar-visual unidentified-object report — January 1961

Appeared 15' - 20' Object descended and broke up into many pieces, then faded out. NONE THE OBJECT SEE BY PILOT OF CRAFT OR FLYING OL POINTING AT THE POINT DID APPEAR GLOW WITH GREENISH GLOW ASCERTAINED GLOWED FOR APPROXIMATELY FROM 5 TO 10 MINUTES * IS RETURN TO US MORE DETAILS Output text: 26 JAN 61 20 19 = NICOLAS 9430::3428 REPORTING YOUR UNCLE* S* REPORT AT OPC-2-2 UNCLE GIVING LS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1. NONE THE OBJECT SEE BY PILOT OF CRAFT OR FLYING OL POINTING AT THE POINT DID APPEAR GLOW WITH GREENISH GLOW ASCERTAINED GLOWED FOR APPROXIMATELY FROM 5 TO 10 MINUTES * IS RETURN TO US MORE DETAILS ABOUT 4 SECONDS 1. RESIDENTS AT LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA SAID THEY ALSO OBSERVED SEVERAL AERIAL OBJECTS WHICH APPEARED TO BREAK UP INTO SEVERAL PARTS WHILE TRAVELING ACROSS THE SKY. IT WAS REPORTED BY WITNESSES TO BE FOLLOWED BY A SECOND OBJECT. METEOROLOGISTS AT LOS ANGELES STATED THERE WERE NO KNOWN METEORS, AIRCRAFT, OR OTHER NATURAL PHENOMENON REPORTED AT THE TIME. NATIONAL WEATHER Bureau REPORTED NO ACTIVITY OF THIS NATURE. SOME OBSERVERS FELT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SATELLITE OR SPACE VEHICLE ENTERING THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. (NOTE: SOME OBSERVERS CLAIMED IT RESEMBLED A "METALLIC MISSILE" AS IT PASSED BY THEM. THOUGH THE WEEK REPORT, STILL QUALIFY AS VERY SIGHT UNEXPLAINED SPARKS. (REPORT AT POM XXX ATTN: G CHANGE ST-3), H/S H74-4PPS LOS AND LEAD FIREBALI (A15215) GIANT FIRE-TRAILING METEOR FLASHED ACROSS THE HORIZEN THROUGHOUT MOST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT, ATTRACTING WIDE ATTENTION AND MANY REPORTS TO THE MEXICO BORDER. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS BEING MORE BRILLIANT THAN THE SUN AND LEFT A TRAIL OF FIRE BEHIND IT AS IT DISAPPEARED. RADAR INSTALLATIONS TRACKED THE HUGE FIREBALL INTO THE PACIFIC TOWARDS LOWER CALIFORNIA. JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT A METEOR FLASHED ACROSS THE SKY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, LIGHTING UP EUREKA, CALIF, ALMOST LIKE DAYLIGHT. Supporting case details: Reported craft or object: Light Formation Reported special objects or artifacts: Radar system Physical traces or material: Radar data or reported radar return associated with 40mi Wof Santa Rosa Island radar-visual unidentified-object report — January 1961 Electromagnetic or instrument effects: Radar or sensor detection