Project 10073 Record Card — Springfield, Illinois, 18 September 1955

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated teletype report regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon sighting on September 18, 1955, near Lake Springfield, Illinois. The witness, a 14-year-old student and Ground Observer Corps (GOC) member, reported observing a single, glowing, oval-round object for approximately 45 seconds. The object was described as being the size of a dime held at arm's length, glowing in colors ranging from orange and red to yellow and orange. The witness reported that the object flew from east to west until it reached the observer's post, at which point it executed a 90-degree turn to the south and disappeared rapidly over the horizon. The witness also noted that the object had a tail. The report was filed by the 791st AC&W Squadron and directed to the Air Technical Intelligence Center and the Director of Intelligence at USAF Headquarters. The official conclusion recorded on the project card is 'Probably Aircraft,' with a specific comment noting that the observer likely saw the exhaust of a jet aircraft. The weather conditions at the time were reported as very clear.