Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record Card and Incoming Message — 19 January 1963
Ever wanted to host your own late-night paranormal radio show?
Across the Airwaves
You're on the air. Callers bring Mothman, Fresno Nightcrawlers, UFO sightings, reptilian autopsies, and whispers about AATIP and Project Blue Book. Every reply shapes how the night goes.
AI-Generated Summary
A civilian ship captain reported a two-second sighting of a fireball over the Pacific Ocean on 19 January 1963. The Air Force concluded the object was a meteor.
On 19 January 1963, at 1351Z, a civilian witness, Captain Ben Gertulla of an Oregon State University oceanographic vessel, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon at coordinates 43.59N 124.51W. The witness described the object as a round, small black particle followed by a ball of fire. The object was initially seen as a bright light and traveled from the northeast to the southwest before falling into the water. The entire observation lasted approximately two seconds. The report was relayed to the Portland Air Defense Sector (POADS) by a representative from the Department of Oceanography at Oregon State University. Official Air Force analysis concluded that the sighting was a meteor, noting that the description and duration were consistent with such an event. Weather station personnel at Adair AFS also noted the possibility that the object could have been a rawinsonde balloon released from Salem, Eugene, or Redberg, given the upper air conditions.
Round small black particle followed by a ball of fire on flight from northeast to southwest falling into water after flight of 2 seconds.
PDF not loading? Download the PDF directly
Official Assessment
Meteor sighting. Description & duration consistent with this analysis.
The object was identified as a meteor based on the description and short duration of the sighting.
Witnesses
- Ben GertullaCapt.Oregon State University Oceanographic Vessel
Key Persons
- [illegible]Reported sighting to HQ POADS