Project 10073 Record Card and Related Reports — Marietta, Georgia, September 1952

This document is a collection of reports and a Project 10073 record card concerning a series of sightings that occurred on September 1, 1952, in the vicinity of Marietta, Georgia. The reports, originating from the 35th Air Division at Dobbins Air Force Base, describe multiple sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena. Witnesses, including a former tail gunner with B-25 experience, reported objects that were described as round, disk-like, or spinning tops. The objects were observed to be very large, moving at high speeds—estimated in excess of 1000 MPH—and performing varied maneuvers, including dipping, spinning, and moving up, down, left, and right. Some witnesses noted the objects were white, red, or bluish-green, and that they emitted sparks or a greenish vapor trail. Approximately 25 people were reported to have seen the objects, with some observers using field glasses. Despite the high number of witnesses and the detailed descriptions of the objects' behavior, there was no physical evidence, no radar contact, and no air traffic in the area at the time of the sightings. The official evaluation on the record card and in the comments section reflects the difficulty in reaching a conclusion. The investigator noted that while some of the reports were likely attributable to weather balloons, the significant discrepancies between the various accounts made a definitive evaluation impossible, ultimately classifying the event as 'Unknown'. The documents include operational immediate cables sent to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Director of Intelligence at HQ USAF, indicating the urgency with which these reports were handled by the military.