 The 1960 UFO Chronology  Nike Missiles similar to those at Indiana site UFO Incident on Nov. 14, 1960; Dillsboro, Indiana Created: March 22, 2006; Updated 5 March 2012 This is a special year for me to create a
chronology for. This was the year that my team
and I (Indiana Unit No. 1) were authorized by
NICAP as an official Subcommittee, November 17,
1960. Three days prior to this there was a UFO
incident at a NIKE missile base just near
Indiana/Ohio border. This incident was not
listed, explained or unexplained, in the BB
listings for Nov. 1960.
NICAP Site
CoordinatorThis is a 6-page chronology, but has links to a 50-page summary, and the FULL 219-page, Brookings Institute Report. A lot of the incidents themselves do not have active links as yet. Blue Book microfilms are only processed to mid-1952, so it will be some time before we can accomplish that goal. However, this is a comprehensive list for 1960 and will also suffice as a good work and checklist for our team. With the help of William Wise (Project Blue Book Archive), and Dan Wilson (archive researcher), the task becomes much easier. But without Brad Sparks' updated list, the Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns, the entire project would have been impossible. And our thanks also go to Jean Waskiewicz who created the online NICAP DBase (NSID) that helped make it possible to link from the cases to the reports themselves. "UFOE" is the NICAP publication, The UFO Evidence (Richard Hall, 1964). Cat. 3 incidents are E-M cases. Francis Ridge The 1960 UFO Chronology_________________________________________________________ Sometime in 1960; Cincinnati, OH
Kentucky Air National Guard pilot chased round UFO. [NICAP UFOE, V] Jan. 8, 1960; Lakota (near), ND Cat. 3. Car lights dimmed as UFO descended toward field, apparently about a mile off highway. Jan. 18, 1960; Gulf of Mexico (2745 N - 9545W) 4:55 p.m. CST, a B-52 aircraft picked up an object on an ASB-4 radar and repeater scope with an estimated speed of 10,000 to 14,000 knots on a collision course at 38,000 feet. The object was bearing 20 degrees on an inbound track and 240 degrees after passing the aircraft. After passing the aircraft the object was picked up on the tail gunner's MD-9 radarscope. (This is curious: A Major Richard R. Shoop observed a UFO at Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, Calif on July 8, 1947. (Dan Wilson) Feb. 3, 1960; Intervale, New Haven Former Air Force PT Boat Commander watched UFOs rendezvous, travel in formation. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Feb. 5/6, 1960; Hollywood, CA Several witnesses (about 11:15 p.m. each night) saw a distinct round UFO hover and maneuver slowly. [Los Angeles NICAP Subcommittee investigation report on file.] Feb.14, 1960; Nome, AK Airline employee, others, saw a silvery rocket-like object with orange flame trail curving up and away "as if it were manned and controlled." A similar second UFO was sighted at Unalakleet moving rapidly NW leaving contrails. [NICAP UFOE, X] Feb. 16, 1960; Laguna Beach, CA Retired chemical manufacturing company executive observed rendezvous of two oval UFOs. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Feb. 27, 1960; Rome AFB, NY (BBU 6663) 6:27 p.m. Control tower officer Capt. J.
Huey and 4 other tower operator saw a light
trailing a white fan shape make a mild
descent. (Berliner)
March 4, 1960; Dubuque, IA (BBU 6667)
5:50 [a.m.? p.m.?] Witness Morris (flying
instructor) saw 3 elliptical-shaped objects in
in-line formation make a slight climb. Film
exposed during sighting showed no images of
the objects. ((NICAP UFOE, V; Berliner)
March 23, 1960; Indianapolis, IN (BBU 6691)
3:35 a.m. Mr. and Mrs. E. I. Larsen saw a
series of balls, arranged like an "x" with one
diagonal line. Note: Little data on the case
in the files. (Berliner)
April 12 [18?], 1960; La Camp (Lacamp), LA
(BBU 6711)
9 p.m. Physical scientist Monroe Arnold saw
a fiery-red disc from the S touch the ground
about 1,000 ft away with a loud explosion
heard by many people, and a flame. It bounced
in an E direction for about 1,000 ft then rose
again, turned W and disappeared. The ground
was scarred in 9 places, and a substance
resembling metallic paint was found, analysis
inconclusive. (Berliner; cf. Vallée
Magonia 503)
April 13, 1960; Red Bluff, CA State Police encounter with highly maneuverable elliptical object, red light beams swept ground (NICAP UFOE, V). April 17, 1960; Richards Gebaur AFB, Kansas
City, MO (BBU 6721)
8:29 p.m. (Berliner)
April 25, 1960; Shelby, MT (BBU 6727)
7-10 p.m. Mrs. M. Clark saw 5 circular
objects fly in trail formation, hover,
accelerate and make sharp turns. Case file
includes other reports from Mrs. Clark for
previous 3 years. (Berliner)
June 4, 1960; Pacific Ocean (BBU)
April 25, 1960; Plymouth, NH Former Town Selectman saw bright red cigar-shaped UFO hover, speed away. [NICAP UFOE, VII] May 4, 1960; Sarasota, FL
Cigar-shaped UFO with four window-like markings sighted by architect. [NICAP UFOE, XII] May 7, 1960; Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (BBU) At 1:10 a.m. CST, a visual observation was made of two white points of light that traveled north, stopped, then proceeded east and stopped. The sighting started at Regina Airport, Saskatchewan, Canada. The objects were observed on FPS-20 and FPS-6A radars and an F-101B was scrambled after the objects but no observation was made. Jamming was experienced. The length of the observation was approximately 1 hour. (Dan Wilson, McDonald list) May 18, 1960; Wellington, N.Z.
Cigar-shaped UFO with "portholes." [NICAP UFOE, XII] May 19, 1960; Dillingham, AK (BBU)
Silver-colored round object 20-25 ft wide
with hanging appendages hovered at 50-100 ft
distance at 12 ft altitude, sucked up trash
cans and grass, carried them about 300 ft
then dropped them. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 146)May 22, 1960; Majorca Isle, Mediterranean
Sea
Palma Observatory reported morning observation of a white triangular UFO, about one-fourth the size of the moon, spinning on its axis. [NICAP UFOE, VI] May 24, 1960; Ocumare del Tuy, Venezuela
Several doctors, a topographer and policemen saw three UFOs, in-line formation, which landed in a heavily wooded area on a hilltop; diamond-shaped scorched marking found at landing site. [NICAP UFOE, VIII] (McDonald list)
June 8, 1960; New York City, NY Elliptical UFO sighted by biochemist. [NICAP UFOE, VI] June 14, 1960; Miho AFB (2 miles east of), Japan (BBU) Pilot saw a brilliant pale yellow oblong object with a short trail flying. July 1, 1960; Nr. Leefe, WY
Hovering disc like "two dinner plates face to face," ascended and sped away. [NICAP UFOE, XII] July 2, 1960; Nr. Maiquetia, Venezuela
Pilot and crew of Venezuelan Airlines Super-Constellation arriving from Spain, reported plane was followed by a luminous UFO. [NICAP UFOE, X] 1:03 a.m. Military aircraft pilot saw a
brilliant pale yellow oblong object with a
short trail flying at about 10,000 mph.
(Project 1947)
July 19, 1960; St. Louis, MO (BBU 6858)
8:30 p.m. T. L. Ochs saw a round, bright
red light fly overhead, stop and hover, and
then back up. Ochs reported similar sightings
on 3 following nights [July 20 and 21 plus ?].
July 24, 1960; Portville, NY State policeman reported two dumbbell-like UFOs. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Aug. 13-14,
1960; Red Bluff, CA. (BBU)
11:50 p.m.-2:05 a.m. Officers Charles
A. Carson and Stanley B. Scott plus 3
others observe maneuvering silent red
light with 5 white lights to the E
descending to 100-200 ft height, reversed
course, lifted to 500 ft, hovered, swept
ground with red beam, aerial gymnastics,
then headed E chased by police car, joined
by similar object from S, disappearing in
the E. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 92-94; NICAP
UFOE, VII)
August 13-18,1960; CA
Concentration of UFO sightings, mostly in north, including many police witnesses. (NICAP UFOE, XII) August 15,
1960
Policy letter to Commanders, from office of
Secretary of Air Force: The USAF maintains a
"continuous surveillance of the atmosphere
near Earth for unidentified flying objects
-- UFOs."August 16, 1960; Oak Forest, IL
Former Air Force pilot saw disc-like UFO which hovered, bobbed around. [NICAP UFOE, V] Aug. 23, 1960; Wichita, KS (BBU 6914)
3:24 a.m. Boeing aeronautical engineer
C. A. Komiske saw a dullorange round
object, with yellow lights coming from
what looked like 3 triangular windows at
bottom, flying in an arc. (Berliner)
August
25,1960
Mystery satellite seen for several days, photographed by Grumman Aircraft Corporation. August 26, 1960; Mesa, AZ UFO observed by chemistry teacher, pilot. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Aug. 29, 1960; Crete, IL (BBU 6929)
4:05 p.m. Farmer Ed Schneeweis saw a shiny,
round, silver object fly straight up at high
speed. (Berliner)
September 4, 1960; Lexington, KY Former Strategic Air Command radar technician saw a glowing sphere traveling from horizon to horizon. [NICAP UFOE, VI] September 5, 1960; Sonoma County, CA Sheriffs observed six varicolored UFOs flying in V-formation. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Sept. 10, 1960; Ridgecrest, CA (BBU 6962)
9:50 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Evans saw 2
light gray glowing objects, saucer or
boomerang-shaped, which swished when
accelerating [in 2 sightings?]. (Berliner)
September 15, 1960; Carrizales, Venezuela Professor of engineering observed accelerating luminous object. [NICAP UFOE, X] Sept. 17, 1960; Kirksville, Missouri (BBU) 10:13 p.m. CST. Radar returns were detected by the 790th Radar Squadron (SAGE) of what was thought to be 8 to 12 aircraft at 95,000 feet. At 10:17 p.m., they descended to 23,000 feet. At 10:19 p.m., 6 to 8 objects were picked up at 100,000 feet and then were lost in the weather. At 10:23 p.m., the first formation started to climb and was tracked until they disappeared off the top of the scope at 100,000 feet. Another formation appeared at 10:40 p.m., at 85,000 feet. The manner of observation was the ground radar AN/FPS-6A height finder. (McDonald list) Sept. 19, 1960; Susanville, CA (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Sept. 20, 1960; Kirksville AFS, MO (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Sept. 20, 1960; SE of Farmington, NM (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Sept. 25, 1960; Midway Isles (BBU)
OSI document says crash reported and mention
of "Moon Dust", asks ATIC to come to the
scene. Sept. 28, 1960, Kirksville, MO (BBU) At 3:16 a.m. CDT, a normal aircraft return appeared on an AN/FPS-6A Height Finder radar scope at 90 degrees at 70,000 feet and disappeared at 90 degrees at 100,000 feet. The length of observation was 45 seconds. (McDonald list) Sept. 28, 1960; Arlington, TX Aeronautical engineer observed erratically maneuvering UFO. [NICAP UFOE, V] About October 3, 1960; Tasmania
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation newscast (October 10): "The sighting of six flying saucers and a 'mother ship' has been reported from the Australian island state of Tasmania. A Church of England minister says he saw the mysterious craft nearly one week ago, but was reluctant to report them. The clergyman finally did report the matter when other people in the area said today, they too had seen strange objects in the sky." [NICAP UFOE] Oct. 5, 1960; Mount Kisco, NY (BBU 7057)
7:37 p.m. E. G. Crossland saw a bright,
star-like light move across 120° of sky.
(Berliner)
October 9, 1960; Longpoint, IL
Minister and others saw a golden, elliptical UFO hover, move away. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Oct. 15, 1960; Cressy (30 miles from), Tasmania (BBU) Spherical 75' object flying at great speed at 36,000' October 27, 1960; Lexington, KY
Attorney saw disc hover, move away. [NICAP UFOE, VII] Nov. 14, 1960; Dillsboro, IN SE Indiana Nike Missile station traced a UFO, then later denied it. (NICAP, Ridge) Nov. 15, 1960; 30 miles from Cressy,
Tasmania (BBU)
10:40 p.m. USAF pilot and navigator of
RB-57 saw a spherical 75 ft object flying at
great speed at 36,000 ft. (Project 1947; BB
files??)
Nov. 17, 1960; Lexington, KY Three UFOs were seen to follow two jet aircraft. One object closed in on the jets, then stopped, repeating this several times. Witnesses described it as round, rotating, color changing from gray to silver as it turned. (Investigated by the Bluegrass NICAP Affiliate, headed by former AF Major William D. Lest sic [Leet?] ) (UFO Investigator / Dec.- Jan., 1960 - 1961, page 6) Nov. 24, 1960; OH White elliptical UFO observed by scientist. [NICAP UFOE, VI] Nov. 27, 1960; Chula Vista, CA (BBU 7133)
7:30 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Hart and 5
others saw an orange-red point of light, with
white sparkler-like light moving in and out of
it, make huge circles, seen to the S and to N,
overhead, then stopped. 3 witnesses had
separate binoculars. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 78-80)
6:38 p.m. USAF Lt. Col. R. L. Blwlin [sp?]
and Maj. F. B. Brown, flying a T-33 jet
trainer, saw a white light slow and parallel
the course of the T-33. (Berliner)
Nov. 29, 1960; Vincennes, IN Observed for 25 minutes, an object with a bright, pulsating light was seen by Francis Ridge, a NICAP subcommittee chairman, and many other witnesses. After it was joined by smaller UFO, a jet was sighted in apparent pursuit of the UFOs. (UFO Investigator / Jan - Dec, 1960 - 1961, page 6) December 5,1960
Major Donald E. Keyhoe, USMC, ret., (NICAP
Director) debated Lt. Colonel Lawrence J. Tacker
(Air Force UFO spokesman) on Dave Garroway's
"Today" program. Dec.
29, 1960, Miho, Japan (BB)
9:37 p.m. local. Capt. Leon C. Seale Jr., and Col. Royal Francisr flying in a T-33 jet aircraft at 26,000 feet on a heading of 62 degrees observed a bright light at 10 degrees elevation bearing 330 degrees from Miho and disappeared at 10 degrees elevation on a bearing of 270 degrees from Miho. The bright light changing from intense white to cherry red to green to blue to white approximate was the apparent size of basketball held at arm's length.The length of observation was 3 minutes beginning at 9:37 p.m. local time. (Dan wilson) |
|
Back to NICAP Chronology Home Page
|