Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence — Sighting of 31 July 1961

This document contains a Project 10073 record card and associated military correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon sighting on July 31, 1961, near Yokota Air Base, Japan. The witness, 1st Lt. Ronald C. Smith of the 13th Tactical Bomb Squadron, reported observing a bright white object with no tail and no sound for approximately seven minutes. The object maintained a straight flight path at an extremely high altitude. The report notes that the object appeared as a pinhead when held at arm's length. The sighting was investigated by the 3rd Bomb Wing Intelligence, which determined that the object's behavior and altitude were inconsistent with meteorological phenomena, flares, or rockets. The intelligence assessment concluded that the object was likely the Echo I satellite. This conclusion was supported by the observation that the object exhibited a characteristic dimming effect as it entered the Earth's shadow approximately one hour after sunset. The documentation includes a formal inquiry from ATIC at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base requesting specific details on the object's elevation, azimuth, and flight path, to which the 3rd Bomb Wing responded that the object was first observed directly overhead and disappeared at the horizon directly ahead of the aircraft. The report is classified as 'UNCLAS EFTO' (Unclassified For Official Use Only).