Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence — Bloomington, Illinois, March 1959

This document contains a Project 10073 record card and subsequent correspondence regarding a UFO sighting in Bloomington, Illinois, on March 2, 1959. The witness, an individual with experience in the Ground Observer Corps, reported observing a faint speck of light moving northwest at an elevation of approximately 50 degrees. The object was visible for about eight seconds and made no sound. The witness initially considered the possibility of an artificial moon or satellite but noted the object's behavior did not match these expectations. The witness provided a detailed sketch of the object's path relative to Sirius and Mars. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) evaluated the report and concluded that the object was likely a high-flying jet aircraft, specifically suggesting an F-104 or B-58. The ATIC reasoned that the duration and speed of the object were inconsistent with a meteor or satellite, and that the lack of sound was attributable to the aircraft's high altitude and wind conditions. The report notes that F-104 aircraft operate in the area and feature tail lights arranged in a perimeter, which would be visible from multiple angles. Major Lawrence J. Tacker of the USAF communicated these findings to the witness on March 31, 1959.