Project 10073 Record Card — Matawan, New Jersey, 1 December 1958

This document file contains records regarding a UFO sighting reported on 1 December 1958 in Matawan, New Jersey. Three engineers employed by the Industrial Washing Machine Corp. observed an object at approximately 1637 hours EST. The witnesses described the object as initially appearing like a jet trail, white in color, and inclined at a 60-degree angle to the horizon. The object reportedly leveled off to a horizontal position, turned end-for-end, and eventually appeared as a small, white, brilliant dot before vanishing. The total duration of the observation was approximately two minutes. The witnesses provided their location coordinates and noted that their observation was determined using a C.&G.S. Chart No. 369. They also included a sketch of the object's shape and maneuvering. The Air Force, specifically the Air Technical Intelligence Center, reviewed the report. Major Lawrence J. Tacker of the Public Information Division determined that the initial report contained insufficient evidence to reach a valid conclusion. Consequently, the Air Force requested that each of the three witnesses complete U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheets to provide more detailed data for further evaluation. The internal routing slips indicate that the report was circulated among various Air Force offices, including AFCIN-4E4 and SAFIS-3, for processing and analysis. The final conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card suggests the object was 'probably a/c contrail,' though the official correspondence emphasizes the need for more data.