Project 10073 Record Card and Spot Intelligence Report — Scranton, Pennsylvania, 12 March 1954

This document is a Spot Intelligence Report dated 19 March 1954, concerning an unidentified flying object sighting in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The report details an incident that occurred on 12 March 1954 at approximately 1940 hours. A civilian witness, whose name is redacted, reported seeing a luminous object while walking home in the 1500 block of Way Aug Avenue. The witness described the object as having the shape of a vapor trail, similar to those left by high-flying aircraft, and estimated it to be about two feet in width. The object was described as luminous and was observed for 20 to 30 seconds as it moved due north. The witness noted that he initially thought it was a high-flying jet or a meteor, but found the appearance unusual. No sound was heard, and the witness noted that the object's luminescence seemed to dim as it moved near ground lights. The Scranton Detachment of the 3d District OSI (IG) USAF conducted an investigation, interviewing the witness on 16 March 1954. The investigating officer, Special Agent Alden Y. Warner, Jr., noted that the witness was a high school graduate with no military aviation background and appeared to be a deliberate, honest individual. The report includes a copy of the witness's original, unsigned letter. Military authorities contacted the 645th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron in Benton, Pennsylvania, to check radar logs for the time of the sighting. The squadron reported that no flying objects were tracked or sighted at that time. The official conclusion reached by the reporting officers was that the object was possibly a luminous green fireball meteor. The report is marked as unclassified and includes instructions for downgrading and declassification according to DOD Directive 5200.10.