Project 10073 Record Cards and Related Correspondence — Dayton, Ohio, September 1956

This document is a compilation of Project 10073 record cards, correspondence, and technical information sheets regarding multiple Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings reported in the Dayton, Ohio area during September 1956. The reports involve various witnesses, including a night watchman at the Dayton Country Club and other civilians. The sightings describe objects of varying shapes and colors, including oval, yellow-green objects, round aluminum objects, and reddish-orange lights. Witnesses provided estimates of size, speed, and behavior, with some reporting the objects hovering or circling. Air Force investigators, including Captain George T. Gregory, conducted follow-up inquiries, often contacting the Dayton Weather Bureau to correlate sightings with weather balloon launches. Several reports were determined to be weather balloons that had experienced malfunctions or were lost by the weather station. Other sightings, such as a bright light reported on September 4th and September 24th, were evaluated as astronomical phenomena, specifically the planet Venus. The documentation includes detailed questionnaires filled out by witnesses, sketches of the objects, and internal Air Force memos routing these reports for evaluation. The records highlight the Air Force's systematic approach to investigating civilian reports, which involved verifying atmospheric conditions, checking for balloon launches, and assessing the credibility of witness statements, which sometimes contained inconsistencies regarding speed and distance. The compilation serves as a record of the Air Technical Intelligence Center's efforts to identify and categorize these aerial phenomena during the mid-1950s.