Project 10073 Record — Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 4 February 1953

On 4 February 1953, at approximately 2145 hours local time, three Air Force officers stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, observed two unidentified aerial objects. The primary witness, Captain Robert S. Gleason, reported seeing a white object overhead traveling at a high rate of speed. While the altitude could not be precisely determined, it appeared to be very high. The object was described as noiseless and emitting a white glow as it passed overhead on a westerly course. Before disappearing over the horizon, the object was observed to veer to the north-west and gain altitude before dropping out of sight. Approximately one minute later, a second object of similar description appeared, following the same course and exhibiting the same behavior. The sightings were witnessed and confirmed by 1st Lt. Joseph A. Pichler and 1st Lt. Laurence H. Duval Jr., both of whom were rated personnel. The observers, located on the ground at the northern section of Maxwell Air Force Base, noted that the weather conditions were perfectly clear with unlimited visibility. Each sighting lasted for approximately 15 seconds. The report, authored by 1st Lt. Edward R. Swartz of the 3800th AU Wing Intelligence Section, was submitted to the Air Technical Intelligence Center. The official conclusion recorded for this incident was that the objects were meteors.