Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record Card — Marietta, Georgia, 3 January 1958
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AI-Generated Summary
A highly experienced Air Force controller reported a stationary, mirror-like object near Marietta, Georgia, in 1958. Intelligence officials concluded the sighting was likely a non-persistent aircraft contrail.
This document details a UFO sighting report filed under Project 10073, occurring on January 3, 1958, near Marietta, Georgia. The witness, identified as a highly experienced Chief Controller at Dobbins Air Force Base, observed a stationary, thin object in a horizontal plane that appeared slightly thickened in the center. The object was described as having a silvery-white, mirror-like reflection of the sun, which appeared as a bright beam at one end. As the object changed aspect, the reflection traveled along its length. The object eventually appeared as a thin brown line before fading from sight after approximately 90 seconds. The sighting occurred under clear, unlimited visibility conditions. Military radar units, specifically the 80th ACWRON, reported no unusual tracks, though they noted numerous aircraft in the vicinity. The Director of Intelligence evaluated the report and suggested that the object was likely a non-persistent contrail from an aircraft in a turn. While a research balloon launch from Vernalis, California, was investigated as a possibility, it was largely ruled out due to the short duration of the sighting and the excellent weather conditions. The report emphasizes that even experienced observers can find contrail patterns unusual.
CONTRAIL PATTERNS AT TIMES APPEAR VERY UNUSUAL EVEN TO EXPERIENCED OBSERVERS.
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Official Assessment
Could have been non-persistent contrail from aircraft in turn.
The object was likely a non-persistent contrail from an aircraft. Although the observer was highly experienced, the report notes that contrail patterns can appear very unusual even to experienced observers. A research balloon launch from Vernalis, California, was considered but deemed unlikely due to the short duration of the sighting under excellent weather conditions.