Project 10073 Record Card — Banning, California, 8 December 1954

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype reports regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon sighting on 8 December 1954 near Banning, California. The witness, S Sgt Whiteman of the 57th Air Base Group, reported observing a basketball-shaped object emitting a bright light, similar to an aircraft landing light, while traveling along U.S. Highway 60. The object was observed for approximately 12 minutes. According to the report, the object approached the highway from an estimated altitude of 4,000 feet, performing maneuvers described as 'left rudder then right rudder' as if preparing for a landing, before executing a straight climb to the east. The witness noted the object moved at a high rate of speed and appeared to be turning. Official weather conditions at the time were reported as 25,000 feet scattered, 15 miles visibility, 49 degrees temperature, and calm winds. The investigation confirmed that no March AFB aircraft were in the air at the time of the incident. Despite the lack of a known cause for the specific sighting, the final evaluation on the record card and index card concludes that the characteristics of the object indicate it was a 'probable aircraft.' The documentation includes internal routing information and confirms the reliability of the witness.