PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD — Lebanon, Ohio, 22 March 1963

On the morning of March 22, 1963, a civilian observer driving north near Lebanon, Ohio, reported sighting an unidentified object for approximately ten minutes. The observer described the object as having a light and a tail, appearing red and gold in color, and rising rapidly. The object was last seen over Xenia, Ohio, at an elevation of 45 degrees or less, moving away from the observer toward the northeast. The observer estimated the size of the object to be less than that of the moon. Following the report, an investigation was conducted, which included contacting Sulphur Grove. It was determined that a weather balloon carrying a radiosonde package had been launched from that location at 0600 local time. Based on the wind conditions (from 340-330 degrees azimuth) and the flight path of the balloon, it was concluded that the balloon would have been in the vicinity of Lebanon at the time of the sighting. Investigators noted that because the witness was in a moving vehicle, an error in reporting the direction of the object's flight was assumed. Subsequent contact with the witness confirmed that the description of the balloon matched the object observed, leading to the conclusion that the sighting was a balloon observation.