Project 10073 Record Card — 21 March 1958, Dayton, Ohio

On March 21, 1958, at 0820 hours, three youths traveling to school in Dayton, Ohio, observed a spherical object moving slowly away from them. The sighting lasted approximately ten minutes. The incident was documented on a Project 10073 record card and a summary extract sheet. Investigative efforts were conducted by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) to determine the nature of the object. A representative from the U.S. Weather Bureau, identified as Mr. Wellens, confirmed that a balloon had been released from Sulphur Grove at 0640 hours. Given the wind conditions of 25 mph, it was determined that the balloon would have been over the Dayton area at the time of the sighting. Further investigation included a review of radar data from the 58th ACW, which covered the period between 0730 and 0830 hours; no unidentified objects were detected. Additionally, flight tests at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base were checked and yielded negative results for any unusual aircraft in the area. The final ATIC evaluation concluded that the object was, without doubt, a balloon, likely originating from a weather unit located northwest of Dayton.