PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — Rapid City, South Dakota, 1 March 1957

On 1 March 1957, at approximately 12:00 A.M. MST, S/Sgt Thomas J. O'Neill and an A/3c (name illegible) observed unidentified lights in the sky near Rapid City, South Dakota. The witnesses reported seeing lights in a circular pattern that appeared to be slanting outward. The lights exhibited color changes, specifically white, blue, and red, and were observed to be moving slowly in a northerly direction. The witnesses noted the presence of a thin cloud layer, with the objects positioned above it. The observation lasted for approximately 30 minutes. One witness reported that they watched the object for 30 minutes, went inside, and upon returning 15 minutes later, the object had disappeared. The official record card for Project 10073 categorizes the event as having insufficient data for evaluation. Comments on the record card suggest that the sighting likely occurred at night and that the duration was excessive for standard aircraft. The possibility of an auroral display was considered, but the data was ultimately deemed too incomplete for a definitive analysis. The report was processed through the 740th AC&W Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base and distributed to the Air Defense Command, the 29th Air Division, the 4602d AISS, and ATIC.