Project 10073 Record Cards and Related Correspondence — Wichita Falls, Texas, January 1961

This document is a collection of records and correspondence regarding a series of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sightings in the vicinity of Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, during January 1961. The reports detail multiple incidents, including a sighting on January 9 by Major Warren R. Aiken and Major Donald P. Taylor, who were flying a Beechcraft Debonair from Altus AFB to Sheppard AFB. The officers observed an object they initially suspected was an aircraft in trouble, but later concluded it was likely a meteorite or satellite. Another significant report involves a January 10 sighting by a civilian pilot, which was later evaluated by the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) as a misidentification of the planet Venus, exacerbated by atmospheric refraction. The file also contains reports from civilian witnesses, including employees of KFDX-TV, who observed bright objects in the sky. One such report from January 11 describes a 'cigar-shaped' object, though the investigating officer, 1st Lt. Charles J. McClure, noted that the witness's reliability was questionable and suggested the report might have been influenced by local newspaper coverage of other sightings. A ground search conducted on January 11 by 55 people and two light aircraft yielded no physical evidence, such as wreckage, burn spots, or ground holes. The correspondence highlights the challenges faced by the Air Force in investigating these reports, noting that some sightings were likely misidentified aircraft or astronomical bodies, while others lacked sufficient data to reach a definitive conclusion. The documents include technical information sheets, record cards, and internal routing slips, reflecting the standard investigative procedures of the era under Project 10073. The overall assessment by the Air Force was that the reported phenomena did not constitute a threat or evidence of anomalous technology, with most cases being resolved through logical identification of known objects or atmospheric conditions.