Project 10073 Record Card — Fairmont, West Virginia, October 1957

On October 14, 1957, at approximately 1420 hours, a civilian witness in Fairmont, West Virginia, observed two spherical objects while resting in their garden. The witness reported that the objects were rotating laterally in flight and moving from the southeast toward the northwest, in the direction of Cleveland or Detroit. The objects were described as moving slowly and glistening in the sunlight. The witness called another individual to observe the objects, and they confirmed seeing them as well. The witness attempted to report the sighting to local newspapers and radio stations but received no follow-up. The witness later wrote to the Secretary of Defense, Neil N. McElroy, seeking information about the sighting. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) processed the report under Project 10073. In a response dated November 7, 1957, Captain Wallace W. Elwood of the USAF informed the witness that a positive identification had not been made, though the information would be used for continuing analysis. The official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card noted that while the objects were likely not balloons due to wind conditions, the available data was insufficient to provide a definitive evaluation of the sighting.