Project 10073 Record Card and Information Report — Lucerne Valley, California, 6 February 1951

On 6 February 1951, two civilian witnesses in Lucerne Valley, California, observed three unconventional objects in the sky. The witnesses, a structural draftsman and his wife, described the objects as pencil-shaped, silvery, and metallic, with a uniform thickness. The first two objects were sighted between 1500 and 1508 hours, while the third was observed between 1700 and 1715 hours. The witnesses reported that the objects performed unusual maneuvers, including moving in opposite directions, stopping, and rotating end-over-end. The objects were estimated to be at a high altitude and were silent. The witnesses, who were driving at the time, estimated the objects were at least fourteen miles distant. The report was forwarded to the Office of Naval Intelligence. The investigating officer, T. J. Shultz, concluded that the objects were likely sleeve targets towed by Air Force aircraft from Muroc Air Force Base. He noted that while the witnesses appeared sincere and competent, the strange maneuvers could potentially be explained by the flight path of the towing aircraft or by optical illusions. The report emphasizes that the interviewing officer did not wish to discount the report as worthless, despite the lack of corroborating evidence.