Project 10073 Record Card — Yukon, Canada, Alaska Area

This document collection details the investigation into a series of sightings of an unusual object reported on the night of March 29, 1958, in the Yukon, Canada, and Alaska region. The sightings occurred at approximately 2027Z and were reported by multiple aircraft crews and ground observers. Initial concerns were raised by Major Leonard of NORAD that the object might be the Soviet satellite Sputnik II; however, after analysis by Capt. Miatech and consultation with the University of Alaska, this was dismissed. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was that the object was a 'true bolide,' or daylight fireball. This assessment was based on the object's high velocity, which exceeded that of any known artificial satellite, and its characteristic behavior, including the emission of white smoke, color changes, crackling and whistling sounds, and eventual fragmentation. The report notes that while observers had difficulty providing precise angular measurements due to the suddenness of the event, the consistency of the reports from a 250-mile area supported the fireball conclusion. The document includes a record card, a flash report from Capt. H. D. Nelson, and subsequent joint message forms coordinating the findings between ATIC and various Air Force commands. It also references Dr. C. P. Olivier's work on fireballs to support the classification. One pilot initially reported the object as having 'short stubby wings' but later retracted this statement after discussing the event with other pilots, clarifying that he believed it to be a failed parachute flare.