Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Report — Panama City, Florida, 8 March 1954

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report regarding an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sighting that occurred on 8 March 1954, near the DuPont Bridge in Panama City, Florida. Two witnesses, both housewives and dependents of military personnel stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, reported observing an object for approximately five minutes starting at 11:26 AM local time. The witnesses described the object as changing shape every few seconds, transitioning from a cigar-like appearance to a delta wing shape, and finally to a round, flat appearance. They estimated the object's size to be approximately 35 inches in diameter, based on holding a beach ball at arm's length. The color was reported as white with silver tinges, changing to pinkish-grey during the final observation. The object was reported to have descended, moved to a horizontal position, and performed a wide turn to the north and west before disappearing. The witnesses stated they had previously been skeptical of flying saucer stories but were now convinced of the possibility. The investigation, conducted by S/Sgt Gerard L. Stout of the Wing Intelligence Office at Tyndall AFB, noted that the witnesses were sincere but poor judges of altitude. At the time of the sighting, there were twenty-six aircraft operating in the local area, and local radar reported no unidentified contacts. Following the initial report, the investigating NCO learned via a local radio station that a Tyndall pilot had reported observing a large flock of birds in the vicinity of the airbase at approximately the same time. The report concludes that the sighting could possibly have been a local aircraft or the flock of birds reported by the pilot, noting that no physical evidence or interception action was taken.