Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence — Winterset, Iowa, 30 January 1955

This document comprises a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding an Unidentified Flying Object sighting reported by L.M. George on 30 January 1955 near Winterset, Iowa. The witness, operating a T-33 aircraft, observed a single white light of varying intensity that appeared to flash at a set frequency. The object performed a head-on pass with the observer's aircraft, demonstrating significant maneuverability. According to the report, the object engaged the observer's aircraft, effectively countering all turns and climbs with bursts of speed, while the observer noted that the object appeared to maintain contact even when the observer's aircraft operated with all lights off. The object was sighted at 21:07 and broke off contact at 21:35 at an altitude of 35,000 feet. Major Allan R. Packer, the Operations Officer for the 132d Fighter Bomber Group, noted that the object was highly maneuverable and appeared to understand tactical maneuvers, utilizing speed and altitude to its advantage. He explicitly stated that he had no logical explanation for the phenomenon. Despite these observations, the Headquarters of the 4602D Air Intelligence Service Squadron (ADC) determined that a follow-up field investigation was not worthwhile. This decision was based on three factors: the sighting lasted only 25 seconds, the report was submitted eight days after the incident occurred, and there were no flight assets immediately available in Des Moines, Iowa, to conduct an investigation. The official conclusion recorded on the project card suggests the object was 'Possibly jet a/c from ADC.'