Project 10073 Record Card — Kansas City, Kansas, 12 August 1961

On the evening of August 12, 1961, at approximately 2100 hours, two senior college students from Drake University observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon in Kansas City, Kansas. The witnesses, who were traveling in a convertible automobile, first spotted the object three blocks away. They drove directly beneath the object, which they estimated to be hovering approximately 50 feet above the ground. The witnesses described the object as circular in shape, resembling a large, oval-shaped sled with running boards similar to those found on an automobile. The object featured a high, vertical tail and was illuminated by whitish-yellow lights along its edges. The witnesses reported that the object appeared solid and metallic, though they were unable to see through it, noting that the night sky and stars were visible around it. The object remained stationary for three to five minutes before moving straight up and accelerating rapidly to the east, disappearing from view within five seconds. The observers reported no sound during the encounter. Weather conditions at the time were clear and dry, with no clouds, wind, or temperature inversions. The report, filed under AFR 200-2, notes that the witnesses were not technical observers but provided consistent accounts. Military intelligence officers concluded that the sighting could not be attributed to known airborne activity or meteorological phenomena. Despite the detailed description, the incident was officially classified as 'Unknown' because the information provided was insufficient to categorize the object or explain the sighting.