Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence — Los Angeles, California, July 1961

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding a UFO sighting reported by a representative of the Consolidated Mines and Smelting Company in Los Angeles, California. The witness reported observing a 'mercury white' light that blinked twice per second and moved from the southwest to the northeast over a period of 25 seconds. The witness described the object as soundless and moving at a speed several times faster than a jet. The initial military assessment on the record card categorized the event as 'insufficient data for evaluation,' noting that the light was 'probably a/c' (aircraft) but lacked confirming evidence. Subsequent correspondence dated July 1962 between Air Force Systems Command and HQ USAF indicates that the original report was deemed insufficient for a reliable conclusion. Colonel Edward R. Goin recommended that the witness be sent a questionnaire (FTD Form 164) to gather more specific information, such as how the duration was determined and whether the object's appearance was consistent across multiple sightings. The correspondence also provides technical guidance to the witness regarding the identification of satellites versus aircraft, explaining that satellites follow specific orbital paths and do not exhibit the flight characteristics of aircraft. The file includes a transmittal letter from Colonel Rodney Nudenberg, confirming the forwarding of the original letter from the mining company for appropriate action.