PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD - HEALDSBURG, CALIF. 14 MAR 58

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated incoming military message regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon sighting in Healdsburg, California, on March 14, 1958. The primary witness, a civilian, observed a blackish, balloon-shaped object approximately three feet in diameter. According to the report, the object approached from the west, touched the ground momentarily at a distance of approximately 150 yards behind the witness's house, and then ascended, moving east before turning south and disappearing. The witness's husband and a boarder also observed the object. The witness viewed the event from a kitchen window, while the other observers were in the backyard. The weather was described as overcast. The military investigation noted that the object's behavior—specifically its ability to take off again after touching the ground—made a standard balloon explanation unlikely, as a leaking balloon would not typically ascend again. Furthermore, the report noted that the object's smooth flight and radical change in direction were inconsistent with a balloon. Despite these observations, the official conclusion listed on the record card is 'Possible weather balloon,' while the internal comments explicitly state that the case remained 'unidentified at this time.' The report includes detailed weather data from the US Weather Bureau in Oakland and Ukiah to assist in the evaluation. The documentation follows the reporting requirements set forth in AFR 200-2.