Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence — Shreveport, Louisiana, October 22, 1960

This document contains a sighting report and associated correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on October 22, 1960, near Shreveport, Louisiana. The witness, who claims 14 years of experience observing military procedures and missile launches, was traveling north on U.S. Route 71 with his wife when they observed an object in the western sky. The witness described the object as initially appearing cloud-like and balloon-shaped, exhibiting a white trail. Over the course of approximately 15 minutes, the witness noted that the object changed configuration, appearing as a 'tear drop' and displaying pink and yellow colors, which he attributed to the setting sun. The witness provided detailed sketches and a narrative account of the event, noting that the object appeared stationary despite the movement of their vehicle. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) evaluated the report under Project 10073. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the object was a combination of a condensation trail left by a high-flying aircraft, illuminated by the setting sun, and the planet Venus, which became visible as the sky darkened. The witness had previously served in the Ground Observer Corps during World War II and expressed a long-standing interest in sky observation. The file includes the original record card, the witness's letter to the Air Force, and a series of sketches illustrating the perceived changes in the object's shape and the trail's appearance over time.