Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence — Goodlettsville, Tennessee, December 1961

This document contains a U.S. Air Force sighting report and subsequent correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on December 29, 1961, near Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The primary witness, a civilian, reported observing two cigar-shaped objects while traveling south on US 31W. The witness, who identified himself as a pilot and civil engineer, described the objects as golden in color, larger than an aircraft, and leaving vapor trails. The objects were observed for approximately 5 to 15 seconds before disappearing instantaneously. The witness initially reported the sighting via a telephone call to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Following a period of silence from the Air Force, the witness wrote to the Foreign Technology Division on February 17, 1962, requesting information on the status of the investigation. In response, Colonel Edward H. Wynn of the Foreign Technology Division provided a formal explanation on March 15, 1962. The Air Force concluded that the objects were non-persistent condensation trails from aircraft, illuminated by sunlight. The letter explained that while the sun had set at the observer's location, the high altitude of the trails allowed them to remain in sunlight, and their appearance was attributed to dispersion and the specific flight characteristics of the aircraft involved. The file includes the original Project 10073 record card, the witness's completed technical information sheets, and the final official determination.