Project 10073 Record Card - Sighting Report Atlantic

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated incoming Department of the Air Force message regarding an aerial sighting reported on July 13, 1961. The primary report originated from the merchant vessel S/S OLYMPIC BREEZE, which was located at 23.16N 69.27W in the Atlantic Ocean. At 0040Z, the crew observed an object on their port side that appeared as a fireball. The object reportedly exploded with a loud bang, leaving behind a circular white cloud that was blown by the wind before vanishing. Shortly thereafter, the crew observed a second, smaller ball of fire, described as having the dimensions of the planet Jupiter. This second object reportedly brightened, rose, and then fell into the sea. A similar report of an explosion was received from an Air Force KC-97 aircraft, identified as PUNY 20, which observed the event at an altitude of approximately 42 degrees and a bearing of 210 degrees, roughly 40 miles away. The documentation includes standard military routing information, indicating the message was distributed to various commands, including CINCNORAD, COFS USAF, and CINCLANTFLT. The record card categorizes the event as a fireball observation.