Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence Regarding September 11, 1961 Sighting

This document consists of a Project 10073 Record Card and a subsequent letter of complaint from a civilian witness. The record card documents a sighting on September 11, 1961, in San Diego, California, where a witness reported a large, crescent-shaped object with flashing and rotating lights that appeared larger than six jets and moved at speeds exceeding U.S. capabilities. The official conclusion recorded on the card is 'Insufficient Data for Evaluation,' noting that no investigation was conducted due to a time lag in receiving the report. The accompanying letter, dated February 20, 1962, is written by a civilian who expresses deep dissatisfaction with the Department of Defense's handling of UFO reports. The author criticizes the Air Force's news release (DOD Release No. 179-62) for its dismissive tone toward civilian witnesses and its categorization of sightings as 'astronomical' or 'insufficient data.' The author argues that the Air Force contradicts itself by claiming UFOs are unimportant while simultaneously issuing lengthy reports and instructing citizens to report sightings to military bases. The letter highlights the author's own sighting in San Diego, reiterating the details of the crescent-shaped object and challenging the Air Force's tendency to attribute such reports to weather balloons, flares, or mass hallucinations. The author concludes by questioning the transparency of the government's UFO reporting process and suggesting that the public is being treated like 'idiotic children.' The document reflects the tension between civilian observers and military authorities regarding the investigation and public disclosure of UAP incidents during the early 1960s.