Project 10073 Record Card — Diboll, Texas, November 1, 1961

This document details a UFO sighting report from Diboll, Texas, occurring on the night of November 1, 1961. The witness, a civilian, reported observing an object in the western sky at approximately 8:00 P.M. CST. The witness was alerted to the object by a neighbor, identified as a doctor, who believed it to be a satellite. The object was described as appearing like a bright star, brighter than other stars in the sky, and moving steadily in a northerly direction. The witness noted that the object did not exhibit the red or green lights typically associated with high-flying aircraft and made no sound. After several minutes of observation, the object suddenly disappeared while in the northern sky at an elevation of approximately 45 degrees. The witness, who identified themselves as a professional engineer and a graduate of A&M College of Texas, initially suspected the object was the Echo I satellite but was confused by its sudden disappearance and its trajectory, which differed from previous observations of Echo I. The U.S. Air Force investigated the report under Project 10073. The official evaluation concluded that the object was indeed the Echo I satellite, noting that a check of the satellite's orbital path confirmed it was in the correct position at the time of the sighting. The report includes completed U.S. Air Force Technical Information Sheets, correspondence from the witness to the Department of the Air Force, and a follow-up letter from Major William T. Coleman, Jr., acknowledging the report and providing questionnaires for the witnesses to complete. The documentation provides a clear record of the civilian reporting process and the subsequent military evaluation of a sighting that was ultimately attributed to a known satellite.