Project 10073 Record Card — Whidbey Island, Washington, 16 October 1951

On 16 October 1951, at 1101 PST, an unidentified object was sighted in the sky near the Naval Air Station at Whidbey Island, Washington. The sighting was reported by four USAF fighter pilots—a major, two captains, and a 1st Lieutenant—who were flying F-94 aircraft on a local mission. The object was described as round or spherical, medium gray in color, and appearing smaller than a dime. The pilots observed the object for approximately 50 minutes, during which time they flew directly toward it. Despite their efforts, the object appeared to maintain its position and distance. The weather conditions were reported as clear, with winds at 40,000 feet blowing from 310 degrees at 60 knots. The object's position was tracked using a theodolite at the Naval Air Station, and a navigator from the 62nd Troop Carrier Group calculated the object's position relative to the planet Venus. The reporting officer concluded that the object was, in fact, the planet Venus, which was visible in the area during that period. Although photographs were taken from the fighter aircraft, the resulting images did not develop properly to show a distinct object. The incident was documented in a series of reports, including an Air Intelligence Information Report and a Project 10073 Record Card. Subsequent correspondence between the 25th Air Division (Defense) and the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base confirmed the transmission of theodolite readings and the failure of the photographic evidence. The case was officially closed with the attribution of the sighting to the planet Venus.