Project 10073 Record Card — Washington, D.C., 10 August 1956

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated teletype message regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported on August 10, 1956, in Washington, D.C. The primary witness, a dentist whose name is redacted, observed a reddish to bright amber object while standing outside at Fort Meyer, Virginia. The witness described the object as varying in shape from circular to a cigar or a pinpoint of light, appearing about the size of a dime at arm's length. The object remained stationary for approximately one hour, exhibiting erratic pendulum-like movements, including east-west and up-and-down motions. The witness noted that the light intensity varied as the object changed altitude, appearing weaker when moving up and stronger when moving down. The sighting occurred under conditions of partial obscuration due to haze. Following the report, military and civilian authorities conducted investigations. Washington Air Route Traffic Control and Andrews AFB operations were contacted to check radar data, both of which returned negative results for any unidentified traffic. The witness, who requested that their name not be used in any public release, was accompanied by their wife and sister-in-law during the observation. The official conclusion recorded on the card suggests that the sighting could conceivably conform to the criteria for an astronomical object, specifically identifying Mars in the East at 30 degrees elevation. However, a handwritten note on the final page of the document suggests an alternative evaluation, noting the sighting line was above the balloon line and suggesting it was a 'Prob. Balloon'. The document serves as a standard military record of a civilian-reported UAP incident, documenting the initial report, the lack of corroborating radar evidence, and the subsequent analytical attempt to categorize the object as either an astronomical phenomenon or a balloon.