PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 12 April 1959

On April 12, 1959, a sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon occurred over the Montreal, Quebec area, specifically near the St. Hubert Airbase. The incident, which took place at approximately 0100Z, involved a single object described by witnesses as a red light that appeared to hover for several minutes before darting northward at a speed estimated to be faster than sound. Descriptions of the object varied among witnesses; some characterized it as a 'long red cigar,' while others described it as a 'black ball with a red light.' One specific witness, Trevor Thompson, reported that the object initially appeared to be stationary before moving off, an observation he estimated lasted about four minutes. The object was observed at an altitude estimated between 3,000 and 7,000 feet. Despite the visual reports from control tower observers and local residents, the object did not register on radar screens covering the St. Hubert and Montreal area. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Defence Command conducted an immediate investigation into the matter, with reports subsequently passed through Northern NORAD. The official conclusion reached by the RCAF was that the sighting held no significance. Investigators determined that the phenomenon was likely a spot or searchlight being operated by an ice-breaking vessel navigating the St. Lawrence River channel. The documentation includes a Project 10073 record card and a formal incoming message from USAIRA Ottawa to various Air Force commands, confirming the investigation's findings.