Project 10073 Record Card — Kirksville, Missouri, 5 May 1962

On May 5, 1962, a group of school children in Kirksville, Missouri, observed two round, white, dinner-plate-shaped objects in the western sky. The witnesses reported that the objects initially appeared as two dull lights that gathered together before separating. One of the objects reportedly remained stationary for approximately two seconds before the group disappeared into a cloud formation. The total duration of the sighting was estimated at two minutes. The report explicitly notes that no sound was heard and no exhaust or trails were visible. The incident was reported to the 790th Radar Squadron at Kirksville Air Force Station, but no radar contact was recorded. An official Air Force message (AF IN 18248) was generated on May 6, 1962, to document the event in accordance with AFR 200-2. The investigating personnel expressed significant skepticism regarding the report, citing the age of the witnesses and their stated interest in reading extensively about UFOs as potential factors influencing the sighting. The final assessment concluded that there was insufficient data to evaluate the event, with an internal note from an evaluator describing the report as 'almost useless' and expressing a desire for better on-site investigation.