PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — 17 NOV 61

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated staff message regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon reported on November 17, 1961. The sighting occurred at 0524Z at coordinates 40-12.5N, 173-45W. The witness, a Boatswain's Mate Third Class (BM3) in the US Navy, described a round, white object, approximately the size of a pinhead, which was blinking at the rate of an aircraft warning beacon. The object was observed for approximately three minutes while the witness was watching a weather balloon ascent. The object was initially sighted at a position angle of 30 degrees and a bearing of 205, eventually disappearing on the horizon at a bearing of 010. The witness, along with the Officer of the Deck (LTJG) and the Commanding Officer (LCDR), were noted as highly reliable. The weather conditions were reported as clear with unlimited visibility. The official evaluation of the incident, recorded on the Project 10073 card, concluded that the object was likely an aircraft. This conclusion was based on the presence of aircraft in the area and the observation that the object's speed and lighting characteristics were consistent with aircraft behavior. The document includes internal military routing information and confirms that an advance copy was delivered to CIN on November 18, 1961.