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Declassified UFO / UAP Document

Project 10073 Record Card — Riverside, California, 17 June 1955

📅 17 June 55 📍 Riverside, Calif 🏛 ATIC 📄 Record Card / Index Card
RiversideCalifornia1955balloonProject 10073UFO

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AI-Generated Summary

TL;DR

A 15-year-old witness in Riverside, California, reported a stationary, reddish-white object that moved vertically and disappeared. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded the object was likely a balloon.

On June 17, 1955, at 0822Z, a 15-year-old civilian witness in Riverside, California, observed a single, round, reddish-white object for a duration of three minutes. The witness described the object as appearing to be the size of a dime held at arm's length. The object was initially stationary but was reported to have moved in a vertical path before disappearing over the horizon. The sighting was documented on a Project 10073 record card and an UFOB Index Card (AISS-UFOB-181-55). The official evaluation concluded that the characteristics of the object were consistent with a balloon, despite the witness's report of the object moving 'straight up' and disappearing. The investigating authority noted that while the reported movement did not fully align with a standard balloon sighting, the available facts supported that conclusion, and no further investigation was authorized.

This doesn't add up but the rest of the facts seem to bear out a balloon sighting.

Official Assessment

The characteristics of this object seem to coincide with those of a balloon. Observer stated the object appeared, and disappeared at the same point, but yet the object went 'straight up', and at the same time disappeared over the horizon. This doesn't add up but the rest of the facts seem to bear out a balloon sighting. No investigation authorized by this headquarters.

The sighting was attributed to a balloon despite the observer's report of vertical movement and disappearance.

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