Project 10073 Record Card — New London, Ohio, 17 September 1960

This document contains a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported by a witness in New London, Ohio, on September 17, 1960. The witness, a 15-year-old male, reported observing a rapidly moving white light at approximately 7:42 P.M. local time. The witness described the object as having a brightness and size comparable to the Echo I satellite. The object traveled from the southwest to the northeast and was in sight for an estimated 15 seconds before disappearing behind trees. The witness explicitly stated that the object made no sound and was not an airplane, noting that two airplanes crossed the same route later that evening. The witness initially wrote to the National Academy of Sciences seeking identification of the object, believing it might be related to the International Geophysical Year (IGY) rocket and satellite programs. The National Academy of Sciences responded on September 28, 1960, stating they did not conduct observation programs and forwarded the inquiry to the Department of Defense. Subsequently, the U.S. Air Force contacted the witness, requesting that he complete a formal technical information questionnaire. The completed questionnaire and summary data sheet were returned to the Air Force. The official evaluation by the Air Force concluded that the object exhibited the characteristics of a meteor, with the exception of the 15-second duration, which investigators attributed to a probable over-estimation by the witness. Consequently, the case was officially classified as a meteor sighting.