Declassified UFO / UAP Document
PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — Lake Charles, Louisiana, 13 Aug 61
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AI-Generated Summary
A reported UFO sighting in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on August 13, 1961, was investigated by the Air Force. The object was recovered the following day and identified as an M-131 parachute flare.
This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and a corresponding military teletype message regarding a UFO sighting in Lake Charles, Louisiana. On August 13, 1961, at approximately 2030 local time, an unidentified object was reported in the area. The military investigation, conducted by the 68th Bomb Wing at Chennault Air Force Base, resulted in the recovery of the object at 1500 hours on August 14, 1961. Upon examination, the object was positively identified as an M-131 parachute flare. While the specific origin of the flare remained undetermined, the military report notes that the incident was documented primarily because the falling object had become a front-page item in the Lake Charles American Press newspaper. The report was distributed to various Air Force commands, including the Air Defense Command and the Air Technical Intelligence Center, to clarify the nature of the sighting and address the public interest generated by the local media coverage.
THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED SINCE THE FALLING OBJECT WAS FRONT PAGE ITEM IN THE LAKE CHAJLES AMERICAN PRESS NEWSPAPER 14 AUG 61.
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Official Assessment
identified as M-131 parachute flare
The object reported as a UFO was recovered on August 14, 1961, and identified as an M-131 parachute flare. The origin of the flare could not be determined.