Project 10073 Record Card — Baghdad, Iraq, 4 Nov 59

On November 4, 1959, at 1600Z, an Assistant Air Attaché stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness, who possessed fifteen years of flying experience, described the object as a round, bright white light, several times larger than the North Star. The object was observed moving rapidly on a straight, low-altitude path parallel to the earth, approaching the observer's position head-on. As the object neared the observer, it disintegrated, releasing a burst of red fragments described as being similar to a Roman candle. The observation lasted only a few seconds. The witness noted that while the object appeared to be a unique phenomenon, it shared characteristics with shooting stars he had observed previously, though it was closer and lacked an apparent arcing motion due to the head-on trajectory. The official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card categorized the event as 'Probably a meteor.' The report was transmitted via the Department of the Air Force Staff Message Division to various commands, including the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.