Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting near Mineral Wells, Texas, 18 July 1960

On 18 July 1960, at 0730Z, a 26-year-old maintenance instructor at the Helicopter School at Camp Wolters, Texas, observed two unidentified round objects while traveling on Highway 281, three miles south of Mineral Wells. The witness described the objects as being the size of a half-dollar, changing color from an intense white to dark red. The objects were observed for five minutes, moving in arc maneuvers at an elevation of 30 degrees, transitioning from the southwest to the west before disappearing behind clouds. The witness reported no sound and no optical aids were used. Weather conditions at the time were reported as partially cloudy with good visibility and winds from 170 degrees at four knots. The report was processed by the 19th Air Division at Carswell AFB and forwarded to ATIC. Official analysis concluded that the sighting provided insufficient data for a definitive identification, primarily because there was only one witness. Investigators noted that the objects' movement was consistent with the wind direction, suggesting the possibility of a balloon. Furthermore, the report mentions that balloons are frequently released in the area and that the presence of numerous airports in Texas makes it possible that the objects were high-flying aircraft. The case was ultimately filed under the category of insufficient data.