Project 10073 Record Card and UFO Report — Aviano AB, Italy, September 1958

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an accompanying official UFO report filed in accordance with Air Force Regulation 200-5. On September 18, 1958, three pilots from the 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron—Captain Rex A. Hill and First Lieutenants Gary G. Boettcher and Martin J. McHugh—observed an unidentified object while flying in the vicinity of Aviano Air Base, Italy. The pilots, noted for their excellent reliability, reported seeing a small, silver, round object that appeared very bright at its center, similar to a light bulb. The object was observed at an altitude of 37,000 feet and appeared stationary, maintaining its position relative to the aircraft over two separate sightings occurring eight minutes apart. The total duration of the observation was 10 minutes, ending when the aircraft broke contact to return to base. Weather conditions at the time included haze and multiple cloud layers. The official conclusion recorded on the project card states that the description was characteristic of a balloon and that subsequent checks confirmed one had been released in the area.