Project 10073 Record Card — Greenfield, California, 13-14 December 1962

This document is a formal investigation report from the United States Air Force regarding a series of sightings of an unidentified flying object over Monterey County, California, between December 13 and 14, 1962. The investigation was conducted by Major Chester G. Krieger of the 93rd Bombardment Wing at Castle Air Force Base. The object was first reported by the Greenfield Police Department at 04:30 AM on December 14, 1962, and was subsequently observed by various law enforcement personnel and military members in Greenfield, Soledad, King City, and at Fort Ord. Witnesses described the object as a brilliant, round, white or silver light that remained in a relatively fixed position before performing a vertical climb. Estimates of its altitude ranged from 10,000 to 60,000 feet. The object was visible for over six hours, though not continuously. Despite the intense interest and reports of the object, no radar contact was made by USAF sites in the area. The investigation involved contacting multiple military and civilian organizations, including the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, the FAA, and the California State Division of Forestry. The investigation concluded that the object's behavior was consistent with that of a balloon. Specifically, investigators suggested it was likely an improvised balloon constructed from plastic bags and filled with natural gas, a practice known to be used by pranksters in the region. The report includes photographs of such devices as evidence. Major Krieger noted that reports describing the object as having erratic movement or being of a specific shape were likely the result of hyper-active imaginations, and he emphasized that the source of the specific balloon could not be positively determined.