Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting at Ladd AFB, Alaska, 26 February 1951

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-1-51) concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed at Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska, on 26 February 1951. The primary witness, Sergeant John B. Sells of the 5001st Air Base Group, reported observing an oblong, dull grey metallic object hovering over the base runway at an estimated altitude of 18,000 feet. According to Sells, the object resembled a flattened football, measuring approximately 10 to 12 feet in thickness and 120 feet across. The object remained stationary for about 45 seconds before emitting a single puff of white smoke and accelerating rapidly to the north at a speed described as far exceeding that of a jet aircraft. Sells, who was on guard duty at the time, noted that the object left no trail, exhaust, or sound. The investigation, initiated by 1st Lieutenant Jesse J. Fuller, included inquiries with the 632d ACW Squadron, the University of Alaska's Geophysical Laboratory, and the local Weather Bureau. These inquiries confirmed that there were no radar echoes, weather balloons, or other aircraft in the vicinity during the time of the sighting. The report emphasizes that Sells was considered a reliable witness with 20/20 vision and no signs of fatigue or impairment. Despite the thorough investigation, the official conclusion stated that the report could not be evaluated, as no material interpretation could be offered regarding the origin or nature of the phenomenon. The document includes various administrative records, including a Project 10073 record card, incoming and outgoing classified messages, and a formal report of investigation by the Office of Special Investigations. The report highlights the lack of any supporting evidence, such as radar data or physical traces, and notes that no intercept or identification attempts were made. The file is marked as confidential and includes instructions for declassification after 12 years.