Project 10073 Record Cards and Related Correspondence — Bunker Hill AFB, October 1959

This collection of documents details a series of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) reports occurring in Indiana in October 1959, primarily centered around Bunker Hill Air Force Base. On October 7 and 8, 1959, military and civilian personnel reported observing a bright, circular, white light. The primary sighting involved an object that appeared to move from East to West and was observed for approximately three hours. Military response included the scrambling of F-102 and F-89 interceptors to investigate. Pilots from these aircraft reported observing the object at 40,000 to 45,000 feet, noting that it appeared to be a star or a balloon.

Intelligence assessments conducted by the 305th Bombardment Wing and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded that the primary object was likely the planet Venus. This conclusion was supported by astronomical computations showing Venus at the reported bearing and angle of 23 degrees and 20 minutes at 1040Z. Experienced weather observers on base corroborated this, suggesting that atmospheric conditions had magnified the appearance of the planet.

In addition to the primary sighting, one observer reported a secondary, distinct event involving an irregular formation of nine pinpoints of light traversing from the Northwest to the Southeast at high speed. These lights were observed for approximately five minutes before disappearing. However, because no other observers reported this specific formation and there was a lack of corroborating evidence, the investigating officer, Lt. Harry A. Kersey Jr., officially discounted the validity of this secondary report. The documents also include correspondence regarding the confusion surrounding the reporting process, noting that while local police agencies in Indiana and Ohio were in communication via radio, there was no formal teletype (TWX) record of the incident being reported to the Dayton Police, as initially suggested. The investigation ultimately determined that the primary sightings were astronomical in nature.