Project 10073 Record Card — Dayton Airport, Ohio, 7 April 1958

On April 7, 1958, a flight instructor operating an aircraft near Dayton Airport, Ohio, reported observing an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness described the object as a very dark, blue, cloud-like entity, approximately 6 to 8 feet in diameter. The observation lasted for four minutes, during which the object moved vertically toward the southwest. The witness, who was instructing a student at the time, noted that the object appeared to be a 'very dark cloud' and was low to the ground. Following the report, an investigation was conducted by James C. Bolieu of the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC). The investigation included checks with local radar units, which operate 24 hours a day; these checks yielded no unusual tracks, with the exception of a weather balloon. Further inquiries with flight test units confirmed that there were many routine flights in the area at the time. Meteorological data indicated the presence of broken, scuddy clouds and a slow wind speed of 6 knots from the surface to 2000 feet. It was noted that a weather balloon had been released by the U.S. Weather Unit in Vandalia one hour earlier, which could have been in the area. The investigator concluded that the sighting was a case of mistaken identity, likely involving a cloud, an aircraft, or a balloon. The investigator specifically remarked that the sun was setting at the time, which would have caused the broken, scuddy clouds to reflect sunlight, potentially creating an unusual appearance for professional pilots. The investigator further noted that if the object had truly been the size of a 'swimming pool,' it would have been observed by hundreds of people in the area, reinforcing the conclusion that the phenomenon was conventional in nature.