Project 10073 Record Card and Associated Correspondence - Cape St. George, Newfoundland

This document collection details a CIRVIS (Communication Instructions for Reporting Vital Intelligence Sightings) report concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on June 1, 1955, near Cape St. George, Newfoundland. The initial report, filed by the 64th Air Division (Defense), described a flaming object that appeared to strike the surface of the earth, erupting into a ball of red and orange flame with long orange streamers of fire. The sighting was observed by an aircraft at 48 degrees 33 minutes North, 59 degrees 25 minutes West, and was reportedly confirmed by the left scanner of a KC-97 aircraft and an inbound C-54 aircraft. Following the report, the 64th Air Division conducted a check of all available data and determined there was no correlation between the reported sighting and any known aircraft in flight. Air Rescue units searched the area for one and a half hours with both aircraft and crash boats, but reported negative results. Subsequent correspondence from the 64th Air Division provided a final evaluation of the incident, concluding that the sighting was an optical illusion resulting from search lights on the Port au Port Peninsula reflecting off the surface of the water and/or clouds. The documentation includes the original Project 10073 record card, which initially categorized the event as a 'probable meteor,' and the subsequent teletype messages documenting the investigation and final resolution.