Project 10073 Record Card — Peoria, Illinois, 12 Jan 58

On January 12, 1958, two women in Peoria, Illinois, reported observing an unidentified object while in their automobile near the intersection of Sterling and Albany Avenues. The witnesses described the object as an elliptical, dull aluminum craft, approximately 14 by 28 feet in size, featuring at least five triangle-shaped fins with circular balls on the ends. The object reportedly hovered motionless at the height of electric light poles for approximately ten minutes before rotating, ascending, and moving in a westerly direction without performing any maneuvers. The witnesses, identified as housewives, were considered sincere by the investigating officer, Major Forrest A. Mowry. Despite the detailed description, the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and the 791st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron found no corroborating evidence from local air traffic, radar units, or other citizens in the city. ATIC initiated an inquiry with the Peoria County Sheriff's office to determine if other reports had been filed, but the Sheriff's office indicated they had no such reports and referred the matter to the Hanna City Radar Base. The case was ultimately processed under Project 10073. Analysts at the Air Technical Intelligence Center expressed skepticism regarding the report, noting the lack of other witnesses in a populated area and the specific, unusual description of the object, which they compared to the rear styling of a 1958 Chrysler automobile. The final assessment from the Air Defense Command, dated January 23, 1958, categorized the incident as a 'misinterpretation of known object.'