Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting at Arlington, Virginia, 7 March 1954

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (Report No. 1-54) regarding a sighting of four unidentified flying objects on 7 March 1954, near Arlington Hall, Virginia. The report details an observation made by three military personnel—a 1st Lieutenant from the 6969th AFSS, a Captain, and a Navy Lieutenant—who observed the objects for one hour and forty minutes starting at approximately 2340 hours. The witnesses described the objects as spheroid-shaped, star-sized, and exhibiting irregular motions while moving in a southwesterly direction. The objects were reported to have no sound and no exhaust. One object was described as white, while others flashed red, blue, and white. The investigation, conducted by a 1st Lieutenant from the Intelligence Division of Headquarters Command, USAF, included a check with Washington National Radar, which yielded negative results. The investigating officer consulted with Dr. Gessner of the U.S. Naval Observatory to evaluate the sighting. Dr. Gessner provided an explanation that the objects were likely stars, noting that the naked eye can perceive twinkling stars as changing colors and that setting stars can appear to descend below the horizon. Based on this expert consultation, the investigating officer concluded that the sighting was explained by astronomical phenomena, as no evidence existed to suggest otherwise.