Project 10073 Record Card — Platte City, Missouri, 7 February 1955

On 7 February 1955, a sighting of unidentified aerial phenomena occurred near a highway intersection north of Platte City, Missouri. The primary witness, a Reverend from Elwood, Kansas, reported observing six round, white objects tinged with yellow, which he compared in size to an automobile headlight seen from less than a mile away. The objects were initially observed in a string formation, but they changed positions several times before forming a 'V' shape. During the 20-minute observation, one light faded out, and the remaining five climbed out of sight. The witness, who possessed experience with aircraft as a former B-17 gunner and through work at Fort Riley, described the sound as more reciprocating than jet-like, though he noted it was strange for conventional aircraft. The weather was clear with unlimited visibility and snow on the ground. The 180th Bombardment Squadron (L) of the Missouri Air National Guard investigated the report. A check with the Grandview AFB Operations Office revealed no jet aircraft formations were operating in the area at the time, though it was suggested the lights could have originated from another base. Despite the witness's background, the official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card identified the objects as cluster balloons.