Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence — Albuquerque, New Mexico, 25 August 1951

This document collection details the investigation into an unconventional aerial sighting reported on 25 August 1951 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A Sandia Corporation security guard and his wife observed a large, chevron-shaped object flying over their residence at approximately 2158 hours. The witnesses described the object as a flying wing type, estimated to be one and a half to twice the size of a B-36 bomber, with no visible fuselage and no audible sound. The object featured 6 to 8 pairs of glowing white lights on the trailing edge of its wings and dark stripes on its underside. The sighting lasted approximately 30 seconds as the object traveled at an estimated speed of 300 to 400 mph at an altitude of 800 to 1000 feet on a heading of 160 degrees. The Office of Special Investigations (OSI) at Kirtland Air Force Base conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing the witnesses and checking with local law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and air traffic control centers. No other reports of the object were received, and ground radar at Kirtland AFB and the 690th AC & W Squadron failed to detect the object. The investigation also compared the sighting to reports of similar objects seen near Lubbock, Texas, and provided the witnesses with photographs from the Lubbock incident to see if they matched their observation. The witnesses confirmed the similarity, and sketches were produced to document the object's appearance. Despite these efforts, the investigation yielded no positive identification, and the case was eventually closed with the conclusion that the sighting could not be attributed to any known activity or condition. The documents include official correspondence, spot intelligence reports, witness statements, and sketches of the object, all of which were processed through the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and the 34th Air Division.