Project 10073 Record Card: Observation of Unusual Phenomenon near Murmansk, USSR

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an accompanying Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-136-56) regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported on May 26, 1956. The incident involved the crew of a ship from Tromsø, Norway, who observed a round, disc-like object while operating off the Russian coast between Murmansk and Teriberka in the White Sea. According to the report, the object remained stationary for approximately 15 minutes at an altitude of 1,000 meters before performing various maneuvers and eventually vanishing at high speed. The witnesses described the object as being approximately twice the size of an average commercial airliner and noted that it moved with incredible speed, appearing like a 'streak of lightning.' The report includes a translation of a press release from the Norwegian newspaper 'Verdens Gang,' which details the crew's account, noting that they had cameras on board but failed to capture photographs due to the excitement of the moment. The weather at the time was described as fine with bright sunshine and almost no wind. The official assessment provided by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) suggests that the object may have been a weather balloon or radiosonde launched from Spitzbergen or Bear Island, which could have been mistaken for a disc when rising against a white background. However, the report explicitly states that there is insufficient data for a conclusive evaluation. The Norwegian Intelligence Service was consulted but provided no additional information to verify the report. The document was approved by Colonel James L. Flanagan of the Air Attaché office.