PROJECT 10073 RECORD - Salem, Massachusetts - 9 November 1954

This document is a Project 10073 record detailing an unidentified aerial object sighting that occurred on November 9, 1954, in Salem, Massachusetts. The primary witness was Lieutenant Condon of the USCG Salem station. The observation lasted for 23 minutes, during which the witness described a single, very bright, white, spherical object. The object was reported to be stationary, though it appeared to be 'jumping' at an elevation of 35 to 40 degrees. The witness reported that the object made no sound and eventually faded out. The report includes detailed weather and wind-aloft conditions for the time of the sighting, recorded at various altitudes. The investigation was handled by LT Roy Crawford, the Assistant Operations Officer, who explicitly stated that he was unable to ascertain the reason for the sighting. Despite this uncertainty, the official conclusion recorded on the form is 'PROBABLY BALLOON'. The document consists of a standard project record form and supporting teletype communications between various military commands, including Olmsted Flight Service Center, Air Defense Command, and the Air Technical Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.