Project 10073 Record Card — Fairchild AFB, Washington, 3 July 1954

On July 3, 1954, a U.S. Air Force control tower operator at Fairchild AFB, Washington, reported observing an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness, who was on duty in the control tower, first noticed the object at 1840 hours. The object was described as translucent, teardrop-shaped, and appeared to have a smaller object attached to it, similar to a weather balloon. The witness estimated the object's size to be approximately 500 feet in diameter and its altitude to be at least 60,000 feet. The sky conditions were reported as very clear with unlimited visibility. The object moved from the northeast to the southwest. The witness attempted to photograph the object using 7x50 binoculars affixed to a camera. Other reports were noted, including a civilian pilot who had sighted the object earlier that day near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and reports from Gieger Tower, which had scrambled jet fighters to investigate. The jets reported the object was at an altitude of at least 60,000 feet and resembled an enormous balloon. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) evaluated the incident and concluded that the object was a weather balloon, noting that balloon tracks were checked and a research balloon was confirmed to be in the area at the time of the sighting. A note on the summary data sheet indicates that the developed film showed no object, only minute particles, further supporting the conclusion that the object was a balloon.