Project 10073 Record Card: Unidentified Flying Object Sighting, Tampa, Florida, March 2, 1958

This document collection details a sighting of an unidentified flying object reported on March 2, 1958, in Tampa, Florida. The initial report, transmitted via the RAWARC system, stated that an object resembling a balloon with a bright light landed on a runway at the Tampa International Airport. According to the report, the object was observed by three personnel in the tower using binoculars, who noted it was orange-colored, made no noise, and maneuvered like a helicopter. The object reportedly rose to 800 feet, hovered, and then disappeared. However, subsequent internal correspondence reveals significant confusion and contradiction regarding the event. A follow-up check with the Tampa tower resulted in a denial that any such object had been sighted. Further internal memos from the Weather Bureau and the Air Force Intelligence (AFCIN) indicate that the report was considered 'inconsistent' and 'too old' to warrant a formal investigation. Meteorological data from the time noted severe turbulence in the area, which may have been a factor. The documentation includes a record card, internal memoranda between the Weather Bureau and the Air Force, and a copy of the original RAWARC transmission.