Project 10073 Record Card — Cape May, New Jersey, 19 November 1956

On 19 November 1956, at 0610Z, a U.S. Coast Guard seaman stationed at the west end of the Cape May Canal in New Jersey observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness, described as a reliable individual by the officer of the day, reported seeing a large blue fireball, estimated to be 20 feet in diameter or the size of a volleyball when viewed from a distance of half a mile. The object traveled in a high, fast trajectory arc from the northeast to the southwest, leaving behind a bluish trail. Notably, the witness reported an indescribable odor in the air, which was explicitly noted as being unlike ozone or burning. The observation lasted between 10 and 15 seconds before the object disappeared into the woods at visible range. The incident was documented on a Project 10073 record card and reported via teletype (NBR 5244) to various Air Force intelligence commands, including the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). Meteorological data for the time of the sighting indicated clear skies with 15-mile visibility. Following an evaluation of the report, the official conclusion reached by Major F. H. Willcox of the USAF was that the sighting was caused by a meteor. The report explicitly notes that there were no aircraft in the locality and no inversion phenomena present, further suggesting the possibility of a shooting star or comet.