Project 10073 Record Card — N.Y. City, N.Y. — 27 Sep 61

On September 27, 1961, at 18:30 local time (2305Z), a civilian observer in New York City reported a sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The observer, located near Columbus Avenue, reported seeing a long orange cloud trailing an object that emitted a slight yellow light. The object was observed traveling from the southeast to the northeast for a duration of 30 seconds before it was obscured by surrounding buildings. The estimated altitude of the object was reported as 70 to 80 miles, and the observer noted that there was no sound associated with the object. The report was received by the Naval Air Station in New York via a telephone conversation. Following the investigation, the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded that the sighting was not an unidentified craft, but rather an aircraft contrail reflecting the sun. The official evaluation noted that the speed of the object was consistent with a jet aircraft at altitude, and the duration of the sighting supported this conclusion. The documentation includes a Project 10073 record card and the original incoming military message (AF IN: 11022) distributed to various commands, including NORAD and the USAF.