Project 10073 Record Cards and Related Correspondence — November 1957

This document is a compilation of Project 10073 record cards and associated military message forms documenting numerous reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) across the United States during November 1957. The reports originate from various civilian and military sources, including Coast Guard stations and commercial airline pilots. The descriptions provided by witnesses are highly varied, ranging from 'round, rusty red objects' to 'white lights' and 'large gray masses.' Many reports describe objects with tails, oscillating lights, or specific colors like red and green. The military response, primarily coordinated through the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and various Air Defense Command (ADC) units, consistently emphasizes the need for more precise data, such as elevation, azimuth, and flight path, which were frequently missing from the initial reports. A recurring theme throughout the documentation is the identification of the Aurora Borealis as a primary explanation for these sightings. Military controllers and intelligence officers frequently noted that the Aurora Borealis was 'very prominent' during this period and that many observers, unfamiliar with the phenomenon, likely misidentified it. Several reports were marked as 'insufficient data' due to the lack of descriptive detail, and in some instances, investigators suggested that sightings might have been misidentified aircraft or astronomical events. The document reflects the rigorous, albeit often frustrated, efforts of the Air Force to categorize these reports within the framework of existing regulations, such as AFR 200-2. The correspondence highlights the challenges of distinguishing between genuine anomalous phenomena and natural occurrences like the Aurora Borealis, especially when observers provided poor or inconsistent descriptions. The collection serves as a snapshot of the UAP reporting process in the late 1950s, illustrating the reliance on civilian reports and the subsequent attempts by military intelligence to provide rational, often astronomical, explanations.