Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record Card — Jacksonville, Florida, 9 July 1962
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AI-Generated Summary
A civilian witness reported a star-like object that separated into two parts and changed color near Jacksonville, Florida. The Air Force concluded the event was a meteor.
On July 9, 1962, at approximately 0015Z, a civilian steel engineer employed by RCA observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon six and a half miles north of the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida. The witness described the object as being shaped like a star and comparable in size and magnitude to the planet Venus. Initially appearing bright white, the object moved from east to west across the horizon. After a period of flight, the object separated into two parts, at which time it changed color to red. The total duration of the sighting was eight seconds. The report notes that contrails were visible between the two parts at the time of separation. The sighting was investigated by Captain Robert E. Jackson of the 679th AC&W Squadron. The official conclusion reached by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) was that the event was a meteor sighting, noting that the duration, speed, and the color change upon separation were characteristic of a bolide.
Duration & speed of obj consistent w/analysis of meteor. Breaking into two a color change characteristic of bolide. Case considered as meteor sighting.
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Official Assessment
Considered as meteor sighting.
The object was observed moving west, changed color from white to red upon separation, and disappeared after a total of eight seconds. Analysis suggests it was a meteor.
Witnesses
- [illegible]Steel EngineerRCA
Key Persons
- Robert E JacksonSenior Director, 679th AC&W Sqdn