Project 10073 Record Card and Related Correspondence — September 18, 1962

On September 18, 1962, a series of reports were filed regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed over the Midwestern United States, specifically spanning areas in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Tennessee. The initial reports originated from the Dayton Post of the Ohio State Patrol, which relayed accounts from sheriff's deputies and private citizens. Simultaneously, two B-47 aircraft commanders, Captain J.F. Krill and Captain W.T. Wetzel of the 513th Bomb Squadron, reported observing the phenomenon while in flight. The B-47 crews described the object as a 'funnel-shaped cloud' with an extremely bright light at the apex of the cone. The light was estimated to be of a magnitude comparable to Jupiter and remained visible for approximately 30 seconds before the cloud dissipated. The pilots were flying at 33,000 feet, and the object was observed at an altitude higher than their aircraft. Five civilian airline flights, including Transworld and American Airlines, also reported the phenomenon to the Chicago Center during the same time period. Ground observations from St. Clairsville and Minerva, Ohio, described a funnel-shaped cloud that flashed for 30 seconds before dissipating. Official military documentation, including a Project 10073 record card and incoming staff messages, indicates that the Air Force investigated the reports. The official conclusion provided in the documentation suggests that the phenomenon was likely a meteor observation, noting that similar cases in the past have consistently been attributed to such events. The report from the NORAD intelligence officer, Flight Lieutenant W.N. Morrison, acknowledged that the information was 'sketchy' due to being received third-hand through the Minneapolis ARTCC.