Project 10073 Record Card: Ice Fall, Dalton, Massachusetts, 25 March 1960

This document details an investigation into an 'ice fall' incident that occurred on the night of 25 March 1960 in Dalton, Massachusetts. According to reports, a 30-pound chunk of ice fell into the yard of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Roche, creating a hole approximately one inch deep and leaving a spatter pattern across a 28-foot by 28-foot area. The incident was accompanied by a very loud noise heard by the residents. An ATIC investigator surveyed the site and determined there were no overhead objects from which the ice could have originated. The ice was described as porous, resembling 'rime ice' or 'tapioca snow,' and was significantly less dense than ordinary ice. Samples were collected and transported to the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) for analysis. Further examination by the Physics Laboratory of the Wright Air Development Division identified the residue within the ice as silicon dioxide (SiO2), a natural mineral. Despite these findings, the official conclusion remained that ATIC had no definitive explanation for the origin of the ice. The report includes correspondence from Nicholas Post, Acting Deputy of Science and Components, who forwarded the findings to various parties, including Dr. J. Allen Hynek, suggesting the data might be relevant to ongoing research into 'green fireball' phenomena. The documentation includes the original Project 10073 record card, internal memos, and the formal evaluation report (WWRC P60-7) dated 4 May 1960, which confirms the chemical composition of the sample but offers no final determination regarding the source of the fall.