Project 10073 Record Card — Tehachapi, California, 17 October 1956

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated military teletype message regarding a UFO sighting that occurred on October 17, 1956, near Tehachapi, California. A civilian witness reported observing a single, red, egg-shaped object for approximately 22 minutes. The witness described the object as appearing to be the size of a dime at arm's length. The object was initially sighted directly overhead at an altitude of 1,000 feet. Its behavior was characterized by a bobbing motion, slow descent, and variable altitude, with the object moving in a westerly direction and performing both ascending and descending maneuvers before eventually moving out of sight. The weather conditions at the time were reported as very clear with a bright moon and calm winds. The military report, filed by the 27th Air Division at Norton Air Force Base, was processed by 2nd Lt. Thomas A. Eichstadt and 1st Lt. Charles R. Hoskins. The official conclusion reached by the investigating authorities was that the sighting was likely caused by a balloon. The report notes that the object moved too fast for an astronomical body and that its bobbing motion and variable altitude were indicative of wind effects on a balloon.