Project 10073 Record Card — Newport Beach, California, 14 July 1957

This document is a Project 10073 record card detailing a UFO sighting that occurred on July 14, 1957, in Newport Beach, California. A civilian witness reported observing a single, round, light-yellow object traveling at high speed in a southwest direction. The observation lasted approximately three to four seconds. The witness noted that there was a helicopter in the area at the time, but no other sound was heard. The object was described as having no tail or exhaust trail. The initial official conclusion recorded on the card was that the sighting was a meteor. However, supplemental notes and correspondence attached to the report provide a more detailed analysis. These notes indicate that the sighting occurred at dusk and that the witness was looking toward the sun. A senior director, 1st Lt. Caldwell, suggested that the phenomenon was likely a specular reflection caused by the sun's position. Further annotations clarify that the witness was likely observing a helicopter and other aircraft while looking directly into the sun, which created unusual visual effects. The document includes a hand-drawn diagram illustrating the observer's position, the direction of the object, and the sun's location, reinforcing the conclusion that the sighting was an optical phenomenon rather than an unidentified aerial vehicle.