Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence — Ephrata, Washington, March 1961

This document collection details a UFO sighting reported on March 3, 1961, near Ephrata, Washington. The primary report, designated SPOIN 453, describes a round object, appearing the size of a pea, which changed color from white to red. The object was observed for seven minutes, appearing stationary before disappearing instantaneously. The witnesses, identified as G/C Millar of the RCAF and Captain Deen of the USAF, were flying a T-33 aircraft at 33,000 feet. Spokane Center confirmed a radar contact moving rapidly to the northwest at an estimated speed of 1050 knots. Subsequent correspondence between the Spokane Air Defense Sector and the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) at Wright-Patterson AFB sought clarification on the details of the observation. The official conclusion reached by the evaluating authorities was that the object was likely the planet Venus, suggesting that atmospheric refraction may have caused the illusion of motion and color change, and that the radar return might not have been related to the visual sighting. An intelligence officer also noted the possibility of a satellite vehicle reentry. The documentation includes the original Project 10073 record card, the initial teletype report, and follow-up communications requesting further details on the sighting parameters.