Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record Card — Republic of Korea, 19 October 1959
Ever wanted to host your own late-night paranormal radio show?
Across the Airwaves
You're on the air. Callers bring Mothman, Fresno Nightcrawlers, UFO sightings, reptilian autopsies, and whispers about AATIP and Project Blue Book. Every reply shapes how the night goes.
AI-Generated Summary
A 1959 sighting of a 'crescent-shaped' object in Korea was investigated by the USAF and identified as the planet Venus. The observer used a theodolite to track the object for over three hours, providing precise data that confirmed the object's movement matched planetary motion.
This document details a UFO sighting report from 19 October 1959, occurring at the Koon-ni Range in the Republic of Korea. The primary witness, 1st Lt. Richard C. Robbins of the 6314th Support Squadron, observed a silver, crescent-shaped object while attempting to spot aircraft during a bombing run. The object was tracked for three hours and twenty minutes using a theodolite (ML-146, 20 power). The observer provided precise data, noting the object's initial bearing at 246.2 degrees and 41.6 degrees elevation, and its final position at 279.6 degrees bearing and 5.6 degrees elevation. The object moved slowly westward at approximately 12 degrees per hour, a rate consistent with the rotational velocity of the earth and the apparent motion of stars. Three aircraft were scrambled to investigate the area, but they spotted nothing. The report includes detailed technical analysis, including a diagram explaining the phase of Venus as seen from Earth on that date. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was that the object was the planet Venus. The report explains that the observer's confusion was likely due to viewing an interior planet through an optical aid for the first time, which revealed the planet's crescent phase, a phenomenon often mistaken for an anomalous object by those unfamiliar with planetary appearances. The document includes the original record card, a supplement to AF Form 112, and incoming message traffic confirming the details of the observation.
There is no reason to believe that the object of this sighting was anything other than the planet Venus.
PDF not loading? Download the PDF directly
Official Assessment
There is no reason to believe that the object of this sighting was anything other than the planet Venus.
The object was identified as the planet Venus. The observer, using a theodolite, tracked the object for over three hours. The object's bearing, altitude, and slow westward movement were consistent with the planet's position and the earth's rotation. The crescent shape observed was attributed to the phase of Venus, which was 0.350 illuminated at the time.
Witnesses
- Richard C. Robbins1st Lt6314th Support Squadron, USAF
Key Persons
- R.A. BassCaptain, USAF