Unidentified Flying Objects Report — Altadena, California, 29 October 1962

On 29 October 1962, at approximately 1600 hours PST, an investigation was initiated by Captain Kenneth W. Schwoebel regarding a sighting of an unidentified object in Altadena, California. The report, filed under Project 10073, details an observation made by Sgt James F. Daley, Deputy John R. Hogan, and two trustees standing outside the Sheriff's Building at 780 East Altadena Drive. The witnesses reported seeing a shiny, white, basketball-sized object moving from the SSE to the NNW. Initially, the object appeared to travel slowly, but observers noted a sudden increase in speed as it passed overhead. The object was lost from sight behind the Sheriff's Building and was not seen again. The witnesses estimated the altitude to be between 10,000 and 20,000 feet. No tail, trail, exhaust, or sound was reported. Following the report, the Air Force conducted an investigation into potential weather balloon releases in the area. It was determined that a weather balloon had been released from the Santa Monica Airport at 0900 hours. The investigating officer, Lt Colonel Jesse M. Gullette, concluded that the object was a weather balloon. The report suggests that the balloon, which was white and five to six feet in diameter, was blown inland by vagrant low-level winds. The perceived sudden increase in velocity was explained as an effect of updraft currents caused by the orographic influence of the sharply rising mountain ridges in the immediate vicinity of the Sheriff's Building.