Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence — Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 1958

This document details a UFO sighting report filed by the 781st ACWRON regarding an event that occurred over Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 17, 1958. The report describes the observation of twenty-four round, amber-colored objects, each estimated to be the size of a dime, traveling at a very high altitude in two distinct flights of twelve. The observation lasted approximately 25 seconds. The primary witness was an astronomer who was studying Mars at the time of the sighting. The objects were reported to be moving in a south-easterly direction. Following the initial report, the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) requested further information from the 781st ACWRON, specifically regarding the elevation and azimuth of the objects when first and last observed, and whether the witness was a professional or amateur astronomer. The 781st ACWRON subsequently clarified that the witness was an amateur astronomer. The official conclusion reached by the investigating unit, based on consultation with the astronomer, was that the objects were likely meteors associated with the Arietids meteoric shower, which occurs in October. The report also notes that there were no other aircraft reported in the area at the time, although flight plans for two B-47 aircraft (Yuletide 55 and Yuletide 62) from Lincoln AFB were reviewed as part of the investigation. The documentation includes the original Project 10073 record card, internal military message traffic between the 781st ACWRON and ATIC, and meteorological data for the time of the sighting, which indicated clear weather conditions.