Project 10073 Record Card — Sioux City, Iowa, 24 November 1961

This document is an incoming staff message from the Sioux City Air Defense Sector (SCADS) to Headquarters Air Defense Command and Headquarters USAF, dated November 24, 1961. It details a UFO sighting that occurred on November 23, 1961, in Sioux City, Iowa. The report describes a single, unidentified object that appeared as a bright star, comparable in size to a five-cent coin held at arm's length. The object was observed by a local businessman and others for approximately 15 minutes, moving in a straight line from north to south. The witness reported that the object had no sound, no tail, and no exhaust. The initial observation was made at an elevation of approximately 40 degrees above the horizon, and the object maintained a steady flight path until it disappeared at a lower elevation. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with unlimited ceiling and visibility, and no cloud cover. The report includes a detailed breakdown of winds aloft at various altitudes. The evaluating officers at SCADS ruled out conventional explanations such as aircraft, balloons, satellites, and astronomical bodies based on the object's speed and the duration of the sighting. The report concludes that the case is listed as unidentified, noting that no physical evidence was recovered and no preliminary analysis was conducted beyond the initial report.