Project 10073 Record Card and UFO Report — Grand Forks, North Dakota, October 1961

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and an associated incoming Air Force staff message regarding a UFO sighting that occurred on October 9, 1961, near Grand Forks, North Dakota. Two airmen from the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector reported observing a disc-shaped object while driving an automobile approximately ten miles west of the base. The witnesses described the object as appearing the size of a dime at arm's length, changing color from white to yellow and eventually to red. The object was observed for approximately 15 minutes, during which it moved from right to left, disappeared behind trees, reappeared, traveled parallel to the witnesses' vehicle, stopped, and then proceeded in a southeasterly direction. The investigation, conducted by the intelligence officer at the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector, included personal interviews with the witnesses and consultations with the 29th Weather Squadron, the FAA tower operator, and other base personnel. No unusual objects were detected by radar during the period of the sighting, and there was no known air traffic in the area. The final assessment, as recorded on the Project 10073 record card, states that the report does not contain sufficient information to allow for a valid conclusion. The investigator noted that while there was no reason to doubt the veracity of the witnesses, it is possible the object was an aircraft misidentified due to the witnesses' inability to discern details and a potential exaggeration of the object's motions. The case was officially closed as having insufficient evidence.