Project 10073 Record Card and Incoming Message — Duluth, Minnesota, July 1962

On July 27, 1962, at 0430Z, a 44-year-old railroad switchman in Duluth, Minnesota, observed an unidentified object while working at a railroad yard located at 600 Garfield Avenue. The witness described the object as appearing like a bright star. Over a duration of 10 to 15 minutes, the object moved from the north to the south, performing a zig-zagging motion three or four times before appearing to move straight up into a haze. The witness was accompanied by two co-workers, though their names were not provided in the report. The weather conditions at the time were reported as clear and cool with unlimited visibility. The incident was reported through military channels, specifically reaching the Chicago Air Defense Sector at Truax Field, Wisconsin. The Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) evaluated the report under Project 10073. The official conclusion reached by the investigators was that the object was a balloon. This determination was based on the presence of research organizations in the area that conduct upper-air research using balloons, as well as an analysis of wind data. The investigators noted that winds at both lower and higher altitudes were from the northwest, which was consistent with the reported direction of the object and the estimated speeds of 25 to 15 knots.