Report of Information on Unconventional Aircraft — 20 August 1951

This document is a Project 10073 record card and accompanying correspondence from the 4751st Air Base Squadron at Geiger Field, Spokane, Washington, dated 22 August 1951. It details a sighting of an unconventional aerial object that occurred on 20 August 1951 at 1910Z. The object was described by witnesses as elliptical and flat, measuring approximately two feet in length and eight to ten inches in width. It appeared white or aluminum in color, produced no sound, and left no trail or exhaust. The object was observed for approximately 20 minutes, during which it climbed slowly, exhibiting weaving or fluxations, before changing direction to the south and continuing a 30-40 degree climb until it disappeared from sight. Witnesses estimated the object to be about two miles away at the time of disappearance, noting that it appeared like a star, likely due to sunlight reflecting off its surface. The observers, who were not trained in aircraft identification but were familiar with local air traffic due to their proximity to Geiger Field, stated that no other aircraft were seen during the observation. A subsequent ground inspection of the area from which the object appeared to originate yielded no physical evidence or fragments. The station weather officer noted that the atmospheric conditions were dry and stable with no clouds and calm winds, suggesting that weather phenomena were unlikely to have caused an object of that size to ascend. Despite the detailed description, the official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card is that the case was evaluated as a balloon.