Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence — Tyndall AFB, May 1961

This document is a collection of reports and correspondence regarding a series of Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) sightings at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, in May and June 1961. The primary incident occurred on May 20, 1961, beginning at approximately 0250 hours. Four airmen—SSGT Cecil L. Mallett, A/3C Garland L. Henson, A/3C Roy C. Elmore, and A/3C Gary L. Kelly—observed a bright, round, rusty-orange or white light that appeared to maneuver in the vicinity of the Drone Launch site. The witnesses described the object as a 'floating light' that moved up and down, gained altitude rapidly, and traveled in a horizontal pattern. One witness, A/3C Garland L. Henson, reported that his radio failed to operate while the object was in the area. The object was also tracked by radar, with RAPCON and Brush Off Control reporting a target 8-12 miles west of the base. A fighter aircraft was scrambled to intercept the object, but the pilot did not see anything. The report includes detailed logs of subsequent sightings throughout May and June 1961, many of which were identified as 'Echo' (likely referring to the Echo satellite) or other celestial phenomena. The official conclusion for the May 20th sighting, provided by the investigating officer, MSGT Henry J. Lacour, suggested that the object was the planet Venus, noting that its position and magnitude, combined with atmospheric inversion conditions, could account for both the visual sighting and the radar returns. The document also contains various administrative records, including coordination copies, mission reports, and meteorological data (adiabatic charts) used to evaluate the sightings. The file reflects the military's systematic approach to documenting and investigating aerial phenomena during this period, involving coordination between base personnel, intelligence centers, and scientific consultants like Dr. Hynek.