Project 10073 Record Card — Berlin, Germany, 8 January 1954

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported in Berlin, Germany, on January 8, 1954. A German resident in the American Sector of Berlin observed an object that appeared as bright as a full moon. The witness reported that the object traveled in a straight path from the northwest to the southeast for a duration of five to ten seconds before disappearing behind surrounding buildings. The observer noted that the object had no visible features, produced no sound, and left no exhaust trail. While the witness estimated the speed to be twice that of a jet aircraft, they also noted it was much slower than a typical meteor. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with a new quarter moon, light winds, and temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The official evaluation of the incident, conducted by the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) of the United States Air Force, concluded that the sighting was consistent with a meteor, noting that the speed was consistent with the distance traveled in degrees of arc. The documentation includes a formal transmittal from the District Commander of the 5th District Office of Special Investigations to the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, dated April 29, 1954, which includes the original report and an extract from the OSI HQ USAFE Summary of Positive Intelligence Activities for January 1954.