Project 10073 Record Card and Associated Correspondence — Sighting of 9 September 1959

On September 9, 1959, the crew and passengers of a USAF C-97 aircraft, en route from Wake Island to Marcus Island, observed an unusual aerial phenomenon. At approximately 1809Z, while flying at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the observers noted a bright, white light that appeared to rise vertically from the horizon. The object, described as an elongated, star-shaped entity surrounded by a cloud, changed colors from white to red and possibly violet. After disappearing, it reappeared, falling at a near-vertical angle while appearing to waiver. A large, vertical, vapor-like trail accompanied the object and remained visible for approximately 30 minutes, while the object itself was observed for 5 to 6 minutes. The aircraft, piloted by Captain Thomas J. Patterson, altered its heading from 290 degrees to 330 degrees to allow the navigator, 1st Lt. William F. Schroeder, to photograph the trail. Six photographs were taken between 1813Z and 1824Z using a Retina IIIC camera. Subsequent investigation by intelligence personnel, including 2nd Lt. Samuel H. Clarke, Jr., determined that the sighting coincided with the reentry of an Atlas ICBM nose cone launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California earlier that same day. The report concludes that this reentry event is the most probable explanation for the sighting, noting that the possibility of an aircraft contrail was unlikely given the lack of other aircraft in the vicinity and the unique characteristics of the trail captured in the photographs. The documentation includes multiple intelligence reports, message traffic between various Air Force commands, and supplemental data regarding the photographic equipment and conditions at the time of the incident.