Project 10073 Record Card — Alamogordo, N. Mex., 7 Oct 52

On October 7, 1952, at approximately 2030 hours, a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, reported observing an unidentified aerial phenomenon while at the Starlight Drive-In Theatre near Alamogordo, New Mexico. The witness, an aeronautical engineer, was watching a movie with his wife when she drew his attention to a light in the sky. The object was described as oval-shaped with its major axis oriented vertically to the ground. Its size was estimated to be equivalent to the thumbnail of the observer's left hand when held at arm's length. The object appeared pale blue in color and was observed moving in a straight, horizontal line from west to east. The witness noted that the object did not exhibit any exhaust or propulsion system, and it made no sound. After traversing approximately 30 degrees of the sky over a period of four to five seconds, the object dimmed and faded out. The observer initially speculated that the object might have been a searchlight beam or a reflection on the windshield of his vehicle. However, he dismissed the reflection theory because both he and his wife observed it through the same pane of glass, and he noted that the sky appeared clear with no visible searchlight beams. The report includes a detailed questionnaire, a sketch of the object's path, and a regional map. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with calm winds and 15 miles of visibility. The official evaluation of the sighting, documented on a Project 10073 record card, concluded that there was insufficient data for evaluation and classified the event as 'Unknown.' The report was formally transmitted by the 6580th Missile Test Wing to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in compliance with Air Force Letter 200-5.