Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting over Tokyo, Japan, 10 November 1957

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (IR-29-57) concerning an unidentified flying object observed over Tokyo, Japan, on 10 November 1957. The report, prepared by Captain Joseph A. Calhoon of the 5th Air Force ATILO, details a sighting that occurred between 0845Z and 0900Z. Witnesses, including Lt Col Marshel E. Bailey and Special Agent Jackson, described a bright light with a white or orange-red color. One witness reported a single tail resembling a flame, while another reported three tails or streamers in blue, yellow, and orange. The object was also reported to have made a 'sizzling' sound and traveled in a slight arc before fading out. The duration of the sighting was estimated between 10 and 45 seconds. Weather conditions were clear with visibility exceeding 10 miles. The Tokyo Astronomical Observatory, while not having viewed the object directly, suggested it was likely a meteor. The report includes subsequent evaluations from the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Analysts, including Captain G. T. Gregory, criticized the report for being too general and lacking sufficient data for a definitive conclusion. They noted that while it could have been a meteor, the possibility of a jet aircraft could not be ruled out if the duration was at the higher end of the estimate, as jet afterburners can appear white or orange-red. The document highlights the need for more rigorous local investigations, including radar checks, for future sightings to improve the quality of intelligence assessments.