Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence Regarding Alleged UFO Sighting in British Columbia

This document collection details the investigation into an alleged UFO sighting in British Columbia, Canada, in February 1960. The report originated from a civilian who claimed that a large, circular, metal object—described as a 'space ship' or 'rocket'—had crashed in a remote area known as the 'Rain Forrest' near Agassiz, British Columbia. The witness claimed the object was approximately 200 yards in diameter, weighed 1,000 tons, and emitted radiation. The report was circulated among various U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Air Force, under Project 10073. The correspondence shows a high level of inter-agency referral, with officials seeking to verify the claims and determine if the object posed an intelligence threat. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) conducted a thorough investigation into the claims. Their findings, documented in a report dated April 4, 1960, concluded that the entire incident was a hoax. The RCMP noted that the 'Rain Forrest' area could not be located, that the Athabascan Indians mentioned in the report were not present in that region, and that the details provided by the source were inconsistent with local geography. The RCMP further noted that the letters received from the source were postmarked from Davenport, Iowa, rather than Paris, France, as claimed by the Havas News Agency. Consequently, the U.S. agencies involved, including the Air Attache in Ottawa, concluded that there was no foundation to the allegations and that no further action was required. The file serves as a record of how U.S. intelligence handled reports of anomalous phenomena, demonstrating the reliance on local authorities—in this case, the RCMP—to verify claims before committing resources to an investigation.