Project 10073 Record Card: Sighting near Smethport, Pennsylvania, 18 October 1950

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an accompanying military teletype report regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on 18 October 1950. A 35-year-old civilian witness, located on Route 46, eight miles south of Smethport, Pennsylvania, reported seeing a round, red to reddish-white object with a dark center at 0420Z. The witness described the object as being the size of a basketball at arm's length, moving at a high rate of speed on a north to northeast trajectory at a 15-degree angle. The witness noted that the object appeared as though it would not clear a 200-foot hill in the vicinity. The observation lasted less than one minute and included a flash of bright light that reflected off the witness's car. No maneuvers were observed. The report was processed by the 4621st Support Group of the Air Defense Command and forwarded to various Air Force intelligence commands, including ATIC at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. An airline pilot reported two fires in the area approximately two hours after the incident. Air Force personnel conducted an investigation, which included a helicopter search of the area. The investigation determined that the reported fires were actually associated with local saw mills. No physical evidence of a crash or burning was found. Based on the description provided by the witness and the lack of physical evidence, the official conclusion reached by the investigating authorities was that the object was likely a meteor.