Project 10073 Record Card — Monroe, Wisconsin, 20 March 1960

On 20 March 1960, at 210050Z, a civilian witness in Monroe, Wisconsin, reported observing a round, bright object resembling a large star. The witness, a 42-year-old former Air Force Sergeant, reported that the object flew in a straight line toward the south until it was directly overhead, at which point it turned toward the southeast and faded from view. The total duration of the observation was approximately two minutes. The report was processed by the Intelligence Division of the Headquarters Chicago Air Defense Sector (ADC) at Truax Field, Wisconsin. The investigating officer, Captain Stephen M. Flanagan, noted that while there was no correlation with known air traffic at the time of the sighting, the civilian weather station at Truax Field conducted daily weather balloon releases at 1800 CST. It was concluded that the object was likely a weather balloon released from Madison, Wisconsin, approximately one hour before the sighting. The report suggests that twilight conditions and the specific angle of observation may have contributed to the witness's difficulty in accurately estimating the object's speed and distance. The report was approved by Brigadier General Kenneth H. Gibson.