Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence Regarding Philadelphia Sighting

This document collection details the administrative handling of a civilian report regarding unexplained aerial phenomena observed over Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 9-10, 1957. A civilian witness reported observing metallic foil objects falling from the sky and contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI subsequently referred the matter to the Air Force for evaluation. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base processed the report under Project 10073. The official Air Force evaluation concluded that the objects were 'chaff,' a well-known material used by military aircraft for electronic jamming to render radar ineffective. The Air Force correspondence explained to the witness that the Philadelphia area is adjacent to significant air traffic and that the material was likely dropped during training flights or simulated radar exercises. The documents include a Project 10073 record card, a formal reply to the witness from the Air Force, and internal routing correspondence between the Air Technical Intelligence Center and the Office of Information Services at the Department of the Air Force in Washington. The Air Force also noted that it had established a policy of not becoming involved in or commenting on speculative discussions regarding such theories, opinions, or allegations. The file also references a separate, unrelated report from a witness in Bakersfield, California, which was forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center for investigation.