Project 10073 Record Card — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1961

On October 18, 1961, at approximately 1850 hours, a 60-year-old male witness and his helper observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, specifically between City Line and Wynnefield on Bryn Mawr Avenue. The witness described the object as a large, silent, red-colored entity with a long red-yellowish tail, comparing its appearance to a comet. The witness noted a 'piolet room' or gondola-like structure at the front of the object. The object was observed moving slowly for approximately five minutes before it vanished in seconds. The witness estimated the object's speed at 40 miles per hour and its altitude at 3 miles. The witness, who had previously reported a 'flying saucer' to the War Department in 1912, expressed concern that the object might be a Russian-made project. The report was forwarded to the Department of the Air Force, where Major Wm T. Colman, Jr. handled the information. The official conclusion recorded on the Project 10073 record card categorized the sighting as 'Probably Astronomical (Meteor),' noting that while the object possessed characteristics of a fireball, the duration of the observation was unusual. The witness provided detailed questionnaires, sketches, and correspondence regarding the event, emphasizing the beauty of the sight and his desire to document future occurrences with a camera and field glasses.