Project 10073 Record Card and Incoming Message — Roswell, New Mexico, October 1961

This document consists of a Project 10073 Record Card and an associated incoming military message (AF IN 20024) detailing a UFO sighting that occurred on October 4, 1961, near Roswell, New Mexico. The witness, a Captain and Command Pilot with the 6 Bomb Wing, reported observing a fireball-like object at approximately 1852 local time. The object was described as being the size of a golf ball, colored blue and white with red and green hues, and possessing a tail longer than the object itself. The witness noted that the object appeared to burn like magnesium and followed an arc similar to the curvature of the earth before disappearing as if a light had been turned off. The observation lasted approximately 10 seconds. The location of the observer was reported as two miles south of Roswell or halfway between Roswell and Walker Air Force Base. Weather conditions were described as clear with excellent visibility and no moon. The report was submitted by Captain Paul J. Bates of the 6 Bomb Wing Intelligence Division. Bates noted that the observer, who had experience with previous meteorite sightings, felt this event did not fit the category of natural astronomical bodies. Furthermore, the report mentions that local Roswell radio broadcasts had speculated about a potential Russian space mission involving a man in orbit, which was expected to be recovered on October Revolution Day. Despite these concerns, the official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 card is that the object was a fireball-type meteor. The evaluation noted that no satellite reentries occurred on that date and the object's behavior did not conform to a reentry pattern, ultimately classifying it as an astronomical event.