Project 10073 Record Card — Madisonville, Kentucky, 11 September 1962

On September 11, 1962, the Kentucky State Police were dispatched to a location one mile north of Sebree, Kentucky, following reports of a strange substance falling from the atmosphere. The witnesses, identified as Mr. and Mrs. [illegible], described a fiber-like substance resembling spun glass falling in great quantities. The phenomenon was observed from 0930 until 1100 local time. Trooper Joe B. McHorter of the Kentucky State Police investigated the scene and noted that the substance was floating with a 15 mph wind. Upon contacting Col. Friend at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, three potential explanations were provided: cloud-seeding effects, industrial waste from a defective filter, or gossamer formed by migrating spiders. Local biology students and professors confirmed that it was the season for spider ballooning. The witnesses later recalled seeing spiders clinging to the material they had collected. Consequently, the investigation concluded that the substance was indeed spider gossamer, a natural occurrence for that time of year. The report was forwarded to the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson AFB.