PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD - 17 March 1957

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated military teletype communications regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported on March 17, 1957, in Fontana, California. The primary report describes a single cigar-shaped object featuring a large red light. The witness, identified as a civilian, observed the object hovering over March Air Force Base for approximately three to four minutes before it began moving and eventually faded from view. The official conclusion recorded on the card suggests that the sighting was likely caused by a balloon, citing the object's hovering behavior and flight path as the primary evidence for this determination. The accompanying teletype messages, dated March 19, 1957, provide additional technical details, noting that the object appeared smaller than a star, was white in color, and moved from a one o'clock position over a period of forty-five minutes. The observer, who was a service station attendant, reported using seven-by-fifty power binoculars to view the object. The teletype also notes that the sky had broken clouds resulting from an earlier thunderstorm. Despite the detailed observations provided by the witness, including the use of optical aids, the military assessment remained consistent with the initial record card, attributing the phenomenon to a balloon. The documentation reflects the standard procedure for processing civilian reports within the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) framework during this period.