Project 10073 Record Card and Information Report 981-57 — Hamburg, Germany, December 1957

On 1 December 1957, at approximately 1630 GCT, a brightly burning object was observed falling in the vicinity of Hamburg, Germany. The object struck the earth at an angle of 30 degrees above the horizon. Following the incident, a local professor from the University of Hamburg investigated the site, noting that the grass at the impact point was singed and covered with a white-grey oxide residue. No metallic pieces were initially recovered. Subsequent analysis of the residue by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) revealed the presence of magnesium and aluminum oxides, with magnesium being the predominant material. Based on this chemical analysis, ATIC concluded that the object was a parachute flare. To further investigate the incident, German Army Engineers conducted extensive digging operations at the site, excavating a hole approximately ten feet deep with an expanded radius. The earth was sifted, but no metal was discovered. While a theory was proposed that the object might have been a ship's signal device, the nearest ship was located one and one-half miles away, which led authorities to discount that origin. The hole was subsequently refilled, and the incident was considered closed by local authorities.