Project 10073 Record Card — Fairfield, Iowa, September 19, 1962

On September 19, 1962, a witness located on a farm approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Fairfield, Iowa, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness, a former U.S. Coast Guard member and current tool and die designer, reported seeing a solid, yellowish, oblong object that appeared brighter than the stars. The object was first sighted at approximately 6:45 P.M. local time. According to the witness, the object appeared in the East and moved toward the South. Upon reaching a point due south of the observer, the object executed a 90-degree turn and climbed at a 'tremendous speed' until it faded from view at 6:49 P.M. The witness noted that the sky was clear and that there was no sound associated with the object. Initially, the witness suspected the object might be a plane, but the sudden turn and speed led them to report it as a 'flying saucer.' The witness provided a detailed questionnaire and sketches to the U.S. Air Force. The Federal Bureau of Investigation forwarded the report to the Secretary of the Air Force on September 26, 1962. The official evaluation by the Air Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC) concluded that the object was likely an aircraft, specifically a jet utilizing an afterburner, which would produce an identical visual impression of a bright light during a climb.