Project 10073 Record Card and Intelligence Report IR-1-61 — Salt Lake City, Utah, 2 October 1961

On October 2, 1961, at approximately 1215 local time, multiple witnesses at the Utah Central Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah, observed an unidentified aerial object. The sighting involved eight civilians, including several pilots, who reported seeing a metallic, silver-colored object hovering in the sky. The object was described as having a rocking motion and appearing to be disc-shaped or oval, with an estimated size of 35 to 50 feet across. Witnesses reported that the object remained stationary for a period before performing rapid maneuvers, including a vertical ascent and a high-speed departure toward the west. One witness, a pilot in a Moony Mark 20A aircraft, attempted to intercept the object, approaching within three to five miles of it. He reported that the object had no wings, tail, or exhaust, and that it appeared to be a controlled craft. Despite the witnesses' conviction that the object was a tangible, controlled entity, official Air Force investigations, including analysis by the Foreign Technology Division, concluded that the sighting was likely a 'sun dog'—an optical phenomenon caused by ice crystals in high cirrus clouds. The investigation noted that weather conditions at the time, including the presence of high cirrus clouds, were consistent with the formation of such phenomena. Radar checks conducted by the Federal Aeronautics and Utah Air National Guard personnel at the Salt Lake Municipal Airport yielded no contacts, further supporting the conclusion that the object was not a physical aircraft. The report includes detailed transcripts of interviews with the witnesses, who consistently described the object's appearance and behavior, as well as meteorological data and correspondence regarding the investigation. The document serves as a comprehensive record of the incident, reflecting both the witnesses' observations and the official military assessment of the event.