Project 10073 Record Card — Aviano AB, Italy, 3 March 1961

On March 3, 1961, at 031838Z, personnel at Aviano Air Base in Italy observed an aerial phenomenon that was initially reported as a potential UFO. The sighting was made by TSG William Brown and A1C Howard L. Swanger from the base tower. The witnesses described a white, circular object, approximately the size of a silver dollar held at arm's length. The object followed an arc across the sky, moving from a 280-degree bearing to a 250-degree bearing, before breaking into five or six smaller pieces, each roughly the size of a dime. These fragments appeared to burn up immediately. The object left a faint trail, described as being the width of a nickel at arm's length. The entire observation lasted between 10 and 15 seconds under clear weather conditions. The incident was documented on a Project 10073 record card and reported via official military channels, including a teletype message from Detachment 19, 31st Weather Squadron. The report was submitted in accordance with Air Force Regulation 200-2. Following an evaluation by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC), the phenomenon was officially classified as a bolide—a type of meteor that fragments and burns upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. The classification of the report was later cancelled on May 2, 1969.