Project 10073 Record Card and Air Intelligence Information Report — Abingdon, West Virginia, 6 November 1957

This document comprises a series of Air Intelligence Information Reports and a Project 10073 Record Card detailing a sighting of an unidentified flying object over Abingdon, Virginia, on 6 November 1957. Multiple witnesses reported observing a single, carrot-shaped object at approximately 1730 hours. The object was described as orange to red in color, approximately 12 feet long and 2 feet wide, and moving in a northeasterly direction at a speed slower than a commercial airliner. The witnesses observed the object for approximately five minutes as it maintained a straight, level course before gradually descending below the horizon. The reports emphasize that the weather conditions were excellent, with clear skies and unlimited visibility. Following the investigation, military intelligence officers, including Major John B. Johnston, concluded that the sighting was not an anomalous phenomenon. The investigation determined that the object was a high-flying aircraft reflecting the light of the setting sun. Analysts noted that the slant rays of the sun near the horizon are known to produce a red-orange specular reflection on aircraft surfaces, which can distort the perceived shape of the craft. Furthermore, the report highlights that Abingdon is situated directly beneath a major airway traffic lane, providing a logical explanation for the presence of high-altitude aircraft in the vicinity. Radar checks conducted for the area at the time of the sighting yielded no corroborating evidence of unidentified objects, further supporting the conclusion that the sighting was a conventional aircraft. The documentation includes sketches provided by the witnesses, which depict various shapes, though the final assessment dismissed these as visual distortions caused by the lighting conditions. The case was officially closed with the determination that the object was a conventional aircraft.