Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence Regarding Unidentified Balloon

This document details the recovery and subsequent investigation of an unidentified object found in a roadside ditch seven miles west of Cedar Falls, Iowa, on December 12, 1956. The object, described as a balloon with cellular construction and measuring 14 to 15 feet in length, was discovered by a local civilian. The 788th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Waverly, Iowa, initially attempted to identify the remains, coordinating with the 20th Air Division, Central Air Defense Force, Western Air Defense Force, and the Air Defense Command, but were unsuccessful. Consequently, the remains were forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) for further analysis. Initial reports suggested the object might not be of U.S. origin, but subsequent intelligence assessments concluded it was a constant-altitude balloon manufactured by General Mills, Inc. The witness noted that he had found a similar, though smaller, balloon in 1948 that also bore General Mills markings. Following the identification, the object was removed from the UFO category and designated for further intelligence exploitation regarding its origin, purpose, and flight path. The document includes a Project 10073 record card, correspondence from the 788th ACW Squadron, and a memorandum for record from Captain George T. Gregory, as well as an acknowledgment of receipt from ATIC dated January 14, 1957.