Project 10073 Record Card — 12 July 1956, Amarillo, Texas

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype report concerning an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on July 12, 1956, at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas. The observer, located inside a building on the base, reported seeing a single oval, reddish object, described as being the size of a pea held at arm's length. The object was observed for one hour and 45 minutes, appearing at 80 degrees azimuth and 35 degrees elevation, and eventually disappearing at 320 degrees azimuth and 35 degrees elevation. The report was filed by the 688th ACWRON at Amarillo AFB and transmitted to various commands, including the Air Defense Command and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). The investigation involved checking with the base weather section, which confirmed that a weather balloon had been released at the time of the initial report. Based on the object's movement and the prevailing wind conditions at the time, the reporting officer and subsequent evaluators concluded that the sighting was caused by the weather balloon. Handwritten annotations on the document further support this conclusion, noting that the movements and winds were consistent with a balloon. The report follows standard CONAD air surveillance procedures.