Project 10073 Record Card — Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, August 30, 1961

This document contains a UFO sighting report from August 30, 1961, in Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. The primary witness, a 54-year-old male with a background as a radar and loran technician during World War II and former employee at the Missile Test Center at Patrick Air Force Base, reported observing an orange light for approximately 12 to 15 minutes. The witness, who was watching for the satellite Echo, described the object as having an intensity similar to the star Polaris. The object appeared in the west and moved in a generally straight path toward the south, exhibiting irregular movements including up and down gyrations, stops, and slow forward progress. The witness noted that the object made no sound and appeared to fade out at an elevation of approximately 30 degrees, which he speculated might indicate it passing into the earth's shadow. The witness's son also observed the object. The Air Force investigated the report under Project 10073. The official conclusion recorded on the project record card was 'Poss Satellite,' noting that while it was not confirmed by space track, the sighting possessed characteristics of a satellite, and the observed wavering was attributed to atmospheric conditions. The file includes correspondence between the Foreign Technology Division and the witness, as well as completed technical information sheets from both the father and the son, providing detailed accounts of their observations and their technical backgrounds.