Project 10073 Record Card — Middle Village, N.Y., 10 October 1961

This document consists of a Project 10073 record card and associated correspondence regarding a sighting reported on October 10, 1961, in Middle Village, New York. The witness, a civilian, reported observing an object at 11:15 PM while positioned at Metropolitan Avenue and Elliot Avenue in Queens. The witness described the object as moving from North to South at a 30-degree elevation. Initially, the object appeared as a star, but it moved rapidly, emitted sparks, formed a short tail, and displayed a light blue color before burning out. The witness compared the appearance to a '4th of July rocket.' The Air Force, represented by Major William T. Coleman, Jr., initially responded to the witness on October 23, 1961, noting that the report had been referred to the Air Force from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Major Coleman informed the witness that the object might have been a bolide or fireball-type meteor and requested further information via an enclosed questionnaire. The record card indicates that the final conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the object was an astronomical meteor, a determination supported by another unspecified report. The file notes that the duration of the sighting was not provided and that the additional information requested from the witness was never received.