Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Reports — 17 October 1952

On the evening of October 17, 1952, at approximately 2115 hours MST, multiple military personnel stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base observed an unusual aerial object. Major Charles R. Coble, 1st Lt. Richard D. Volk, 2nd Lt. Warren J. Eljenholm, and 2nd Lt. William J. Arrowood provided sworn statements regarding the event. The witnesses, who were in different locations including the Municipal Stadium in Albuquerque and traveling on Highway 85 south of Taos, described a round, bright blue or bluish-green object moving in a straight line from the north toward the northeast. Estimates of the object's speed were approximately 2,500 mph, with an altitude ranging between 10,000 and 18,000 feet. The duration of the sighting was consistently reported as two to three seconds. The witnesses noted that the object appeared to burn itself out rather than fall from sight, and some observed a sudden flash at the end of the observation. The 34th Air Division (Defense) compiled these reports into an Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-20-52 W). The investigating officers, including 1st Lt. Gordon K. Rendall and 1st Lt. Glen D. Parrish, concluded that the sighting could be accounted for by a meteor. It was noted that the object was observed by a large number of people, and local newspapers had already received numerous reports on the incident before official investigations could be initiated. The reliability of the observers was considered excellent, and visibility was reported as unlimited.