Project 10073 Record Card: Unidentified Flying Object Sighting - 13 January 1958

This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report regarding an Unidentified Flying Object sighting reported by LCDR Ralph E. Sykes of the Light Photographic Squadron SIXTY-ONE. On 13 January 1958, at 1105 PST, while flying at an altitude of 42,000 feet, the pilot observed a silver, elliptical object that appeared motionless. The object was estimated to be 20,000 feet above the pilot's aircraft. The observation lasted for approximately 10 minutes, during which the object moved from a 1030 position to a 0730 position, with a general course from Northeast to Southwest. The report includes a formal memorandum from the Commanding Officer of the Light Photographic Squadron SIXTY-ONE to the Commanding General of Norton Air Force Base, as well as a Naval Speedletter detailing the incident. Following the report, an investigation was conducted by the 27th Air Division (Defense) at Norton Air Force Base. Analysts concluded that the object was a 60-foot Navy balloon that had been released from Iwakuni, Japan. This conclusion was supported by a check of government and military weather and meteorological schedules, specifically referencing Navy Balloon Flight #69 and a USAF weather plotting chart dated 24 January 1958. The sighting was officially categorized as a confirmed balloon.