Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Report — 1 July 1951

This document consists of a Project 10073 Record Card and an associated Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-33-52) regarding an aerial sighting that occurred on 1 July 1951 over North Korea. At 2250 hours, four night pilots operating in different areas simultaneously observed a large, bright green ball moving at a tremendous velocity. The pilots reported that the object was traveling on a North-Northeast heading at an altitude of 10,000 to 15,000 feet. The description provided by the witnesses noted that the object changed color to blue and trailed red sparks. The specific locations of the pilots at the time of the sighting were recorded as follows: one F4U-5N two miles north of Seoul, one F4U-5N at CT 1070, one F4U-5N at CT 4020, and one F7F-3N at CU 2010. The report was extracted from the Operations Summary of the 1st Marine Air Wing and forwarded through Navy channels to the Air Force. The official conclusion reached by the intelligence office was that the sighting was a meteor. The preparing officer, Captain Charles J. Malven, noted that it was unknown if a more detailed report had been submitted regarding the incident and that no further information was available at the headquarters. The document was approved by Brigadier General Charles Y. Banfill, Deputy for Intelligence, and was subsequently declassified under DOD Directive 5200.10.