Project 10073 Record Cards and Technical Information Sheets — February 1961

This document collection comprises a series of Project 10073 record cards, U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheets, and internal duty officer reports from the Aerospace Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, dated February 1961. The records document various civilian reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in the Dayton, Ohio area and beyond. The reports detail specific sightings, including a shiny, spotlight-like object observed on February 8, 1961, which was later evaluated as likely being the star Aldebaran or the planet Mars. Another report from February 14, 1961, describes a round, white light, which investigators concluded was the planet Venus. A third report from February 15, 1961, describes an object crossing in front of Venus, which was identified as the Echo I satellite. The documentation includes completed questionnaires from witnesses, often young students or civilians, providing details on the object's appearance, duration, and lack of sound. The internal correspondence between ATIC personnel, such as Major Friend, Captain Fisher, and Captain McNeill, highlights the administrative process of handling these reports, including follow-up calls to witnesses and coordination with other agencies. A summary table of sightings from February 16–28, 1961, lists numerous incidents across the United States and internationally, with evaluations ranging from 'Insufficient Data' to 'Astro (METEOR)' or 'Satellite'. The document also includes a copy of a 'Science News Letter' article from January 1961, which discusses the prominence of Mars and Venus in the February sky, providing context for the astronomical identifications made by the Air Force investigators. The overall tone of the documentation is administrative and analytical, focusing on the systematic identification of reported phenomena as known astronomical or man-made objects.