Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting of 29 August 1952

On 29 August 1952, at approximately 1550Z, two pilots from Patrol Squadron Twenty Three, LTJG W.A. O'Flaherty and LTJG R.S. Moore, were conducting a cosmic balloon tracking flight over the coast of Greenland at an altitude of 10,000 feet. While flying a P4Y-2 aircraft, they observed a cosmic balloon at 74,000 feet. Upon the release of the balloon's instrument parachute, the pilots observed three additional white, spherical or disk-like objects. These objects were estimated to be between slightly smaller than the balloon and half its size. The objects maintained a triangular formation relative to the balloon for approximately two to three minutes. The observers noted that the objects possessed no visible aerodynamic features, trails, exhaust, or propulsion systems. After remaining stationary relative to the balloon, the objects accelerated rapidly to speeds estimated to be in excess of the speed of sound before disappearing. The pilots, both Naval Academy graduates, were considered highly reliable. They discussed the objects over the aircraft's internal communication system while observing them. A third crew member, LT Callahan, was in the co-pilot's seat but did not observe the objects due to the aircraft's flight path and the relative positioning of the balloon. The weather conditions were reported as clear with unlimited visibility above an 8,500-foot undercast. The crew contacted an icebreaker in the area to determine if other objects were intended to be released, but were informed that only one had been deployed. The official record card for Project 10073 suggests the sighting might have been an optical illusion caused by the sun reflecting off the balloon, though the narrative reports from the pilots emphasize that the fact the objects were seen by two observers from different positions in the aircraft seemingly eliminates this possibility.