Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting over Trent, Texas, 10 August 1958

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype communications regarding an aerial sighting that occurred on August 10, 1958, over Trent, Texas. The primary witness was an American Airlines pilot operating flight number 655. The witness reported observing a long, white streak in the sky that exhibited vertical motion. The object was described as having a trail similar to a meteor before it burst and faded, breaking into several smaller objects. The observation lasted approximately seven to eight seconds. The weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with two-tenths scattered clouds. The report notes that the sighting occurred at an altitude of 16,000 feet. Military authorities, including the 34th Air Division and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), processed the report. Kirtland Air Force Base confirmed that there were no military activities in the area that could account for the sighting. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating authorities was that the object was 'undoubtedly a bolide,' or a bright meteor. The documentation includes teletype messages detailing the incident, which were transmitted to various Air Force commands, including the Air Defense Command and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at HQ USAF. A contact person, George Elliott, is listed for further inquiries regarding the report.