Project 10073 Record Card — 17 June 1956, Columbus, Ohio

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and supporting disposition form regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported in Columbus, Ohio, on June 17, 1956. At approximately 16:30 EST, a civilian witness observed two or three objects described as being the size of a pencil and having the color of a flashbulb. The objects were reported as solid and straight, appearing to flash on and off against a solid overcast sky. The observation lasted for approximately three to four seconds. The witness, who was inside a house looking through a window, reported the objects moving in a southwest direction. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was that the objects were likely aircraft that disappeared into the overcast, noting that the meager information provided and the nature of the observation from inside a house likely accounted for the short duration of the sighting. The disposition form confirms that the report was initiated following a telephone call received by Staff Duty Officer Captain C. Wessel at 19:05 hours on the same day. The witness, whose name is redacted, provided details on a standard U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheet, confirming they were inside a building in a residential section of Columbus at the time. The witness indicated they were watching television and looking out of a window when they noticed the objects. The weather conditions were noted as overcast with no breaks in the clouds, and the temperature was described as cool. The witness stated this was the first time they had seen such an object and expressed uncertainty regarding the nature of the phenomenon. The documentation serves as a standard record of a UFO report processed by the Air Force during the mid-1950s, reflecting the systematic collection and evaluation of civilian sightings.