Project 10073 Record Card — Itazuke, Japan, 18 January 1956

On 18 January 1956, at approximately 0100Z, the crew of an aircraft identified as Center 40, operating under Project 119-L, reported an unidentified flying object while in flight. The crew, consisting of Captain Edward J. Owens, 1st Lieutenant Richard A. Wilder, and 2nd Lieutenant William W. Smith, observed the object while flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The object was described as white in color and appeared to have the shape of a weather balloon. It was estimated to be at an altitude of 40,000 feet and was moving in a southerly direction, which was opposite to the heading of the aircraft. The sighting lasted approximately 45 seconds. The weather conditions were reported as clear, with no contrails or smoke observed associated with the object. The navigator, 2nd Lt. Smith, reported that he did not observe the object himself but provided data from the aircraft's logs. Following the incident, Captain Owens was examined by a flight surgeon, who diagnosed the captain with trouble as a result of ventilation issues, though this was unrelated to the sighting itself. The report was filed by Captain Edmund T. Pawelek of Detachment 1, 744th Troop Carrier Squadron. The official conclusion reached by the intelligence officers was that the sighting was likely a balloon. The report notes that no significant conclusions could be drawn due to the lack of detailed information. The document was processed as an Air Intelligence Information Report under reference number 1746-6-57 and was distributed to the Commander of the 456th Troop Carrier Wing (H) at APO 73, San Francisco, California.