Project 10073 Record Card and Technical Information Sheets — Washington, D.C., 13 December 1961

On 13 December 1961, at approximately 1705 local time, a diamond-shaped object was sighted over Washington, D.C. The object, described as dark grey with a pulsating orange-brown glow, was observed by multiple witnesses, including a former Navy pilot and flight instructor. The object moved in a straight line from west to east, passing over the George Washington University area toward Washington National Airport. Witnesses reported that the object was solid, approximately 20 feet in length, and made no sound, nor did it leave an exhaust trail. One witness, who was driving, stopped his vehicle and exited to obtain a clearer view, noting that the object appeared to have a thickness proportional to its size. The sighting lasted between one and three minutes. Official military records, including incoming messages from the 1100th Operations Group at Bolling AFB, categorized the object as a 'circular with four tips' or 'diamond' shape, approximately 15 to 20 feet in size. Despite attempts at triangulation, no successful radar data was obtained, as the object was reportedly too low and obscured by city clutter. J. Allen Hynek, in correspondence with Major William T. Coleman, remarked that the witness's experience as a flier suggested the report should be taken seriously, noting that the object did not resemble any conventional aircraft, as it lacked wings, rotors, or navigation lights. The official conclusion for the incident remained 'UNIDENTIFIED'.