Project 10073 Record — Ellington AFB, Texas, 17 May 1954

This document is a Project 10073 record detailing an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena sighting reported by Captain Joseph E. Girard on May 17, 1954, at Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. Captain Girard, a rated bombardier with extensive military service, observed a single object described as a solid black ellipse with light. The object was seen for approximately three seconds, traversing a 50-degree arc in a straight flight path before disappearing suddenly. The observation occurred at night under clear, dry, and warm weather conditions. No radar confirmation was obtained, and radar scanning of the sector yielded no returns. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating authorities was that the sighting was a probable meteor. The report includes comments from Operations Specialist A/2C Della E. Penrod, who provided background on Captain Girard's military history. Penrod noted that while Girard is a trained observer, he had been driving for approximately 233 miles prior to the sighting, suggesting that fatigue might have influenced his perception, though his sincerity was not questioned. The document follows the reporting standards established by AFR 200-2, dated August 26, 1953.