Project 10073 Record Card — Vandalia, Ohio, 4 September 1956

This document comprises a Project 10073 record card and associated U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheet regarding a UFO sighting reported on 4 September 1956 in Vandalia, Ohio. A civilian witness reported observing a single, round, reddish object that appeared to remain stationary for approximately 20 minutes. The witness described the object as being the size of a pea at arm's length. The weather conditions at the time were noted as a clear sky. The report was processed by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). A disposition form dated 5 September 1956, signed by Major T. J. Connair, Jr., confirms that the sighting was reported to the SDO (Staff Duty Officer) and subsequently investigated. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the sighting was caused by an astronomical phenomenon, specifically the planet Mars, which was positioned in the southeast at a 25-degree elevation. A handwritten note on the final page of the questionnaire indicates that the duty officer believed the object was a large red star in the east, aligning with the final astronomical assessment.