Project 10073 Record Card — SSW of New Orleans, Louisiana, 5 November 1957

On November 5, 1957, at 2340Z, a sighting of an unidentified aerial object was reported by personnel aboard the SS Hampton Roads, located at 27.50 North, 91.12 West, southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana. The witnesses, including the Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third Mate, and Radio Operator, described the object as a round, glowing entity with edges that appeared brighter than its center. The object was observed moving in a North-Northeast (NNE) direction. The weather conditions at the time were reported as partly cloudy with winds from the southeast at force two. The object was noted to have dimmed as darkness set in. The incident was documented on a Project 10073 record card and communicated via teletype to HQ USAF and other military commands. The official evaluation of the sighting suggested that the description and prevailing winds were consistent with a balloon seen at dusk, possibly one released in Mexico. However, due to limited data, the investigators concluded that no definitive determination could be reached, and the case was officially classified as having insufficient data for evaluation.