Project 10073 Record Card — West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 29 August 1960

This document contains the records and correspondence regarding a UFO sighting reported by a civilian in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, on August 29, 1960. The witness observed a bright orange object, described as having the appearance of a missile head on fire, traveling in an oval pattern from the northwest to the southwest for approximately 30 seconds. The witness initially contacted the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, which referred the report to the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) for evaluation. The witness also provided a newspaper clipping regarding objects reported to be circling the earth in conjunction with the Echo satellite. In their official response, dated October 14, 1960, the Air Force, through Lt. Colonel Lawrence J. Tacker, concluded that the witness had observed a meteor. The response explained that the absence of a trail did not rule out a meteor, as some trails are faint or not persistent enough for detection. Regarding the objects mentioned in the newspaper article, ATIC concluded they were likely high-flying jet aircraft. The file includes the original Project 10073 record card, the witness's report form, correspondence from the witness to the Air Technical Intelligence Center, and the official Air Force response.