Project 10073 Record Card — Shelton, Washington, 8 April 1957

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype communications regarding an unidentified aerial sighting reported on April 8, 1957, near Shelton, Washington. A civilian witness reported observing a greenish-orange glowing light, estimated to be 6 to 8 feet in diameter, which possessed a tail resembling a helicopter. The object was observed for approximately two to three minutes, moving from east to west at the speed of a jet. The report notes that the sighting occurred under clear weather conditions. Military intelligence units, including the 25th CADD at McChord AFB and the Air Technical Intelligence Center, processed the report. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency was that the sighting was likely caused by an aircraft. The documentation includes internal annotations questioning the provided geographic coordinates, noting that the coordinates 47.1N 127.1W would place the sighting location approximately 125 miles west of the Washington coast in the Pacific Ocean, rather than near Shelton. Additional notes suggest the possibility of weather balloons or aircraft lights, with one handwritten note referencing weather stations in Washington state and balloon launch schedules.