Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting in Dallas, Texas, 12 December 1954

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype correspondence regarding an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena sighting that occurred in Dallas, Texas, on December 12, 1954. At approximately 2000 CST, a witness identified as a 34-year-old zone manager for Life Magazine observed a single object described as a 'dark blob' with a blue exhaust. The object was reported to be moving horizontally from north to south, turning on its long axis before disappearing. The duration of the sighting was estimated at one second. The weather conditions were reported as crystal clear with no moon and minimal wind. The witness noted that there was no sound associated with the object, though there were other aircraft in the vicinity and a searchlight operating in the area at the time. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center was that the object was likely a meteorite, based on the reported color, speed, and the brief duration of the observation. The report notes that while the two observers involved disagreed on the direction of the object's rotation, they were considered sincere in their accounts. The investigating officers suggested that a more thorough investigation could be conducted by the 4602D AISS, though they acknowledged the Air Force's desire to maintain good relations with the press, given the witness's employment at Life Magazine.