Project 10073 Record Card and Supplemental Reports — La Camp, Louisiana, April 1960

This document is a comprehensive collection of reports, correspondence, and photographic evidence regarding an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sighting that occurred on 12 April 1960 near La Camp, Louisiana. The primary incident involved a round, firey red, nickel-colored object observed by a local farmer. The witness reported that the object moved in a straight path before impacting the ground, resulting in a loud rumbling noise followed by four or five distinct explosions. The impact site was subsequently investigated by the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing, which identified nine distinct impact points over an area of approximately 120 yards. The investigation team, led by Major Ray F. Grodhaus and M/Sgt Robert F. Plympton, recovered physical evidence, including paint scrapings and scorched tree branches. The site was searched thoroughly, but no wreckage or debris from an aircraft or missile was found. Radar data from the 1908th AACS Squadron provided additional context, noting an unidentified target traveling at an estimated 800 knots in the vicinity. The document includes detailed supplemental reports, including laboratory analysis of the paint samples, which indicated the presence of zinc and iron, but no definitive match to known military equipment. The investigation also includes statements from military personnel, such as SSgt George D. Mallard, who observed an SIF target on radar that behaved in an unusual manner, disappearing when the mode selector was changed. The official conclusion of the 401st TFW was that the case remained 'unidentified.' The file contains extensive documentation, including photographs of the impact craters, maps of the area, and correspondence with the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) and Dr. J. A. Hynek, who requested the follow-up information. The report emphasizes the thoroughness of the investigation, noting that no aircraft from England Air Force Base were in the area at the time, and that the local witnesses were considered highly reliable.