Project 10073 Record Card — Dayton, Ohio, 19 April 1960

On the evening of April 19, 1960, a civilian witness in Dayton, Ohio, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon while located at the Dayton YMCA. The witness, who was described by the investigating ATIC Duty Officer as being fairly knowledgeable and familiar with azimuth and elevation, reported seeing a bright white light that emitted two red balls. The object, which the witness estimated to be traveling at speeds between Mach 3 and Mach 6, appeared to come to a sudden stop before dimming and disappearing. The observation lasted approximately five seconds. The witness noted the sky conditions included a high haze. Cox Municipal Airport was contacted regarding the event and reported observing a greenish light of 3-5 seconds duration at the same time. The official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card is that the object was a meteor. Internal notes from the investigation indicate that the event was considered a 'usual occurrence' for that section of the sky, with some speculation that the moon may have been a contributing factor to the sighting. The witness, who had previous experience observing meteors, initially thought the object was a meteor but later questioned this assessment. The report includes detailed technical information sheets filled out by the witness, documenting the object's appearance, motion, and the witness's own background in cost accounting and USAF service training.