Project 10073 Record Card and Associated Correspondence — Greenville, Maine, April 1959

On April 19, 1959, at approximately 1630 local time, a repairman affiliated with the 765th ACWRON in Greenville, Maine, observed an unidentified aerial object. The witness described the object as round, white, and approximately the size of a dime from his perspective, with a red streak on the bottom caused by sun reflection and a tail resembling a white piece of string. The object remained in sight for one hour, exhibiting slow eastward movement at an estimated altitude of 4,000 to 5,000 feet. The sighting occurred under clear weather conditions with good visibility. The report was formally submitted by Captain Tom F. Hamilton of the 765th ACWRON in accordance with AFR 200-2. Following the initial report, the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) requested additional information regarding the object's elevation and direction. The 765th ACWRON responded that the object's elevation was 75 degrees throughout the observation and that it disappeared after a scattered patch of clouds moved between the observer and the object. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency was that the object was likely a balloon, with the observed 'tail' being the payload. This assessment was supported by the local wind conditions, which were blowing to the east at 10 knots, and the fact that a balloon would remain in the area for the duration of the one-hour observation. GCI radar coverage in the area was reported as good, but no radar contact was made with the object.