Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Report — New Orleans, Louisiana, 15 February 1955

On 15 February 1955, at approximately 0047Z, four civilian witnesses in New Orleans, Louisiana, observed a single, round, yellowish-orange light in the sky. The object was described as being the size of a pea held at arm's length. It moved in an east-north-easterly direction at a 45-degree angle, exhibiting a wavering motion to one side and a blinking effect before eventually fading from view. The duration of the observation was approximately four minutes. The witnesses included a 15-year-old student, a 25-year-old ice company employee, a 35-year-old aluminum company employee, and one individual whose details were not available. The investigation was conducted by Flight 2-C of the 4602D Air Intelligence Squadron. The investigating officer, 1st Lt. Richard C. Vaughn, coordinated with local control towers at Moisant International Airport, the Naval Air Station, and New Orleans Airport. All towers reported no aircraft in the area and no unusual aerial activity. Furthermore, a check with the Control Center for System 119 revealed no project activity in the area at the time. The investigation concluded that the most logical explanation for the sighting was an escaped balloon from the ongoing Mardi Gras festivities. The report notes that the object's wavering motion and blinking could be attributed to wind currents affecting a balloon or the running lights of an aircraft, though the latter was ruled out by the lack of radar or tower reports. The report includes several enclosures, including individual statements from the witnesses and memory sketches of the object's flight pattern. The final assessment by the Air Intelligence Information Report, approved by the commanding officer, concurred with the hypothesis that the sighting was caused by Mardi Gras activity in the area.