FOIA: Project 10073 "Record Card"

NM_JAN_16_1951.pdf
Project 10073 "Record Car"
Memo giving brief description of civilian sighting
Document date: 1950-01-16
Department: USAF
Author: Not given
Document type: Memo
pages: 1


Archivist's Notes: Dull grey in colour,2 objects,both objects moving equal distance apart,made sharp turn and disappeared,shaped like round disc. Author notes that there is insufficient data to form evaluation due to lack of positional data and no "time concept". Also noting that document is in poor condition and project could read as "Record Card" instead of car due to blemish on document. Duration of Observation lasted 40 seconds and appeared to head in NE direction. Also noted was reference to a document case #22, date:1-21-51 Hollman AFB. Source of Observation is cilivian

2 dull grey disk shaped objects traveling at equal distance in a north east direction were sighted by an un-named civilian from the ground for approx 40 seconds. the objects made an extremely sharp turn before speeding off

unknown time of sighting

location of sighting was artesia, new mexico

the 'x' for photo lies in between the yes and no tick boxes, making it unclear if there was a photo included

a balloon is referenced in the report which the disks appeared to be flying around as if checking them out (*might be worth cross referencing any reports for that date of known weather balloons in the area at that time.)

weather conditions were good that day



[edit on 16-11-2007 by justyc]

The following is a quote from a researcher who based his information from the Project Bluebook files.

source

Jan 16, 1951; Artesia, New Mexico. Time unknown. Witnesses: Two members of a balloon project from the General Mills . Aeronautical Research Laboratory, the manger of the Artesia Airport, and three pilots. The balloon crew was observing their 110' balloon at an altitude of 112,000' when a dull white, round object was spotted. It appeared larger than the balloon, but made no movement. Later, the balloon crew and the others saw two objects from the airport; flying side-by-side, they circled the balloon and flew away to the northeast. The second observation lasted about 40 seconds. Note: there is confusion over the date of this case, with some USAF records showing it as 1952; however, 1951 appears to be correct.

The record card refers to a case from 22Jan51, though this incident is from 16Jan51, this leads on to believe that this card was prepared after the fact, though it is possible the card was updated with this line. Where is the original sighting information, was there another report? I checked for a 22JAN51 case at Holloman AFB and found this incident which might the one referred to in the record card:

source

Jan. 22, 1951 (also given as Feb. 14, 1951)

50 miles SE [ESE?] of Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, N.M. 10 a.m.


--Primary witnesses were pilots Capt. Ernest W. Spradley of Aerial Photo Lab and Capt. James E. Cocker of All-Weather Flying Division, Air Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Also a General Mills Aeronautical lab project engineer Mr. McAleese [sp?] and an airman, were flying in a C-47 heading E [ESE?] at about 10,000-12,000 ft and tracking a large Project GOPHER plastic balloon at about 50,000-60,000 ft when they saw a bright star-like object seemingly next to the pear-shaped balloon or above and to the side. As they approached and flew under the balloon they noticed the object descend to the balloon's level and grow larger in apparent size until about 1/4 to 1/2 the 70 ft balloon, when it appeared to be round and flat like a dime, milky white or silvery in color with a clear outline....