Project 10073 Record Card — Random Lake, Wisconsin, 16 January 1957

This document is a Project 10073 record card detailing a sighting that occurred on 16 January 1957 in Random Lake, Wisconsin. The witness, identified as a civilian housewife, reported observing two white, barrel-shaped objects stacked vertically, floating in the air for approximately five minutes. The objects were observed moving from west to east and exhibited no exhaust. The report includes a brief summary of the sighting and an evaluation by the investigating officer, 1st Lt. Walt Oloson. The official conclusion reached by the investigators is that the objects were likely a partially inflated high-altitude research balloon, specifically one released by General Mills from Minneapolis-St. Paul. This conclusion was supported by a telephone consultation with a Major Hughes regarding meteorological data, which confirmed that the wind conditions at the time (270-280 degrees at 20-30 knots) were consistent with the observed movement of the objects. The report notes that such balloons often exhibit a pinched appearance near their center, matching the witness's description. Handwritten analyst comments on the document highlight the importance of including wind data to reach a sound conclusion, noting that the absence of such information in similar cases often hinders the evaluation process.