Project 10073 Record Card and Associated Correspondence — Montauk AFS, New York, 19 November 1958

This document contains a Project 10073 record card and associated military correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported on 19 November 1958 at Montauk AFS, New York. The sighting involved a radar return observed by A/2C James A. Frey of the 773D RADRON (SAGE). The radar return was described as being 1/2 to 3/4 inches long, with a thickness comparable to the edge of a dime. The object was tracked for approximately one hour, during which it exhibited unusual flight characteristics, including climbing to 77,000 feet and descending to 50,000 feet almost vertically, while moving constantly against prevailing winds. The observer, whose reliability was noted as unquestioned, reported the object's altitude between 55,000 and 77,000 feet. Telephonic checks were conducted with Lincoln Laboratories, Suffolk County AFB, New York International Airport, and the 26th Air Division (SAGE) control center, but none of these agencies could identify the object as known traffic or a weather balloon. The report was later evaluated by the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1964. Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr. requested an evaluation, which was provided by Colonel Frank L. Ayres. The final assessment concluded that the information was insufficient for a definitive analysis because the range and elevation angle could not be determined. Furthermore, the evaluators noted that because the report was six years old by the time of the review, further analysis would be of little value.