Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting at Camp Irwin, California, 26 September 1960

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated teletype correspondence regarding an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sighting reported at Camp Irwin, California, on September 26, 1960. At approximately 0200 hours, six unidentified observers reported seeing a spherical object, estimated to be the size of a tractor-trailer. The object was described as greenish in color, trailing red and orange flames, and emitting smoke. It was observed at an altitude of approximately 3,600 feet, traveling on a path parallel to the ground before disappearing over the horizon. The witnesses estimated the speed of the object to be between 400 and 450 miles per hour. The duration of the sighting was recorded as one minute and 30 seconds. The report notes that the object appeared brighter than the sky, with a luminosity comparable to a headlight seen from several blocks away. No optical aids were used by the observers. The weather conditions at the time were reported as clear and dry with a slight breeze and a temperature of approximately 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The report was initially received via telephone by Lieutenant Robert A. Melott of the Intelligence Office at Camp Irwin. Following the report, ATIC forms 164 and 164A were sent to Lieutenant Melott for completion by the observers in accordance with Air Force Regulation 200-2. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating agency, ATIC, was that the sighting possessed all the characteristics of a missile. The report notes that while no specific direction was provided and the sighting remained unconfirmed, there was no evidence to suggest that the object was anything other than a missile. No physical evidence was recovered, and no follow-up report was received by the investigating authorities.