Project 10073 Record Card — Sighting near Buffalo, New York, December 1960 – January 1961

This document collection details a series of UFO sightings reported near Buffalo, New York, between December 26, 1960, and January 9, 1961. The initial reports were made by a civilian and military personnel from the 4621st Support Group at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport. Witnesses described a round, white-to-blue-white object, approximately the size of a pea at arm's length, which exhibited a blinking red light on each side. The object was observed for two to three hours each night, rotating in a circular motion and moving gradually from the south to the west before disappearing.

Following the initial reports, military personnel, including Captain Dale G. Newbold and A1C Walter C. Barnhardt, visited the sighting location to conduct an investigation. They utilized additional equipment, including high-speed film and transits, to track the object. The investigation also involved coordination with the 26th Air Division (Defense) to monitor the area with radar, which yielded no unknown contacts.

After thorough analysis, the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded that the object was the planet Venus. Investigators noted that Venus was at a magnitude of -3.8 during the period of the sightings, making it appear unusually bright and closer than it actually was. The haze present in the atmosphere further contributed to the object's appearance. Regarding the photographs taken by Air Force personnel, the final assessment determined that they showed only the track of Venus and surrounding stars. The images that appeared to show an object of undetermined origin were attributed to improper film exposure or mechanical failure of the camera. The documentation includes various record cards, internal Air Force messages, and technical analysis sheets confirming this conclusion.