Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting of 14 April 1958

This document details a sighting report filed by a Major in the U.S. Air Force, serving as Chief of Supply Inspection at HQ EADF, Stewart AFB. On 14 April 1958, while flying an aircraft at 6,000 feet, the witness observed an unidentified object for approximately four seconds. The object was described as a grey-black, charcoal-colored, solid metallic piece, roughly 14 inches square and 1.5 inches thick, with rounded edges. The witness noted that the object was rotating slowly and falling in a trembling motion along a straight path. The witness estimated the object's speed at 300 mph and noted that it disappeared from view as it fell into terrain and foliage. The witness explicitly stated there was no sound, no vapor, and no exhaust associated with the object. Weather conditions at the time were reported as good, with high stratus clouds and a slight breeze. The witness, who was on an inspection tour at the time of the sighting, suggested in his report that the object might have been a piece of machine casting or a metallic plate, possibly a section of an engine or missile airframe from another aircraft. The report was initially filed with HQ 35th Air Division at Dobbins AFB and subsequently forwarded to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson AFB for evaluation. Official correspondence between the Air Force commands indicates that the initial data was considered limited in scope, leading to requests for a more detailed report as prescribed by AFR 200-2. Despite the follow-up, the case remained classified as unidentified due to a lack of supporting data to confirm the witness's hypothesis regarding the object's origin as aircraft debris. The file includes the original record card, the technical information sheet completed by the witness, and various internal military messages coordinating the investigation.