Project 10073 Record Card — Elk, New Mexico, 5 April 1955

This document is a Project 10073 record card detailing a sighting that occurred on April 5, 1955, in Elk, New Mexico. A civilian witness reported observing a single, round object with a fan-shaped tail, described as being the size of a baseball held at arm's length. The object was observed for ten seconds in bright sunlight, appearing green-purple with an orange tail. The witness noted that the object followed a straight downward trajectory and appeared to fall at the same rate as a stone before exploding two feet above the ground. The observer was seated in a truck at the time of the sighting. The official conclusion recorded on the card is that the object was an astronomical meteor. The record includes a reference to an attached news clipping from Roswell, New Mexico, dated April 5, 1955, which reports that a 'green fireball' with a flaming tail was seen over several southeastern New Mexico towns. The clipping notes that Civil Aeronautics Authority offices in both Roswell and Carlsbad received reports from pilots flying in those areas regarding the mysterious object.