Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting of 11 November 1951

This document is a Project 10073 record card and accompanying correspondence regarding a sighting of an unconventional aircraft on 11 November 1951. The incident occurred at 1030 GMT near South Wales, New York, at coordinates 42° 43' N - 78° 32' W. Two witnesses, including a former radio gunner from the 12th Air Force, observed a sudden streak of white vapor trail moving from the southwest to the northeast. The witnesses were hunting at the time of the observation. The object itself was not clearly seen, though one witness reported a brief reflection on the object and a slight roll toward the vertical. The observation lasted approximately one to two seconds. The witnesses noted that the vapor trail was continuous and white, and it appeared to widen as it dispersed in the wind. No sound was associated with the object. The report includes detailed meteorological data for the area, noting various cloud layers and wind speeds at altitudes up to 45,000 feet. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency was that the phenomenon was a probable vapor trail from an aircraft, as weather conditions indicated that such trails would form below 45,000 feet. The reliability of the witness and the report contents was assessed as C-2. The document was generated by the 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport and addressed to the Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.