Project 10073 Record Card — Dayton, Ohio, 18 November 1959

On November 18, 1959, at approximately 02:30 local time, a civilian witness in Dayton, Ohio, reported observing an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness, a 29-year-old tool grinder, was driving home when he noticed a bright, bluish-white light moving from east to southwest behind a light cloud cover. He described the object as appearing somewhat round and irregular, with a diameter estimated between 35 and 40 feet. The object reportedly left a trace of light similar to a comet's tail and appeared to grow larger and brighter before disappearing. The entire observation lasted between 10 and 15 seconds. The witness noted that there was no sound associated with the object and initially speculated it might have been an aircraft on fire. Following the report, the ATIC Duty Officer, Captain Richard E. [illegible], conducted a series of inquiries with local aviation authorities, including Patterson and Wright operations, the 56th Fighter Squadron, AACS, the CAA Control Tower, and the Flight Test Division. All entities reported negative results for aircraft in the area at that time. The official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card suggests the object was likely a meteor, noting that while the reported duration was excessive for a typical meteor, it remained the most plausible explanation for the sighting.