Project 10073 Record Card and Associated Staff Messages — Goose Bay, Labrador, September 1959

This document collection details a UFO sighting reported on September 22, 1959, by the crew of a Pan American flight (Clipper 114) traveling from New York to London. At approximately 0230Z, while flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet over the east coast of Labrador (53.40N 58.00W), the crew observed a mysterious, luminous object. The object was described as a 'reddish glow' with a 'vertical tail' that moved from south to north at right angles to a vertical shaft of light. The observation lasted for approximately 30 seconds. The crew, under the command of Captain Howard Cone, initially speculated that the object might have been the last stage of a rocket that had left the atmosphere, noting that its movement could be attributed to the rotation of the earth. They explicitly stated it did not appear to be a comet, as a comet would have had a tail of light stretching behind it rather than perpendicular to its flight path. The incident was reported through military channels, including the 64th NDCC at Pepperell AFB, and was documented on a Project 10073 record card. Official military evaluation concluded that due to the limited information reported, a valid conclusion could not be reached. The report includes internal Air Force staff messages confirming the details of the sighting and the lack of radar or photographic evidence.