Project 10073 Record Card and Incident Report — Whiteman AFB, Missouri, 6 May 1963

On 6 May 1963, at 07/0115Z, a circular, white or light orange object was observed near Whiteman AFB, Missouri. The object was initially spotted by three control tower operators—SSGT Charles R. Kirkland, A2C Franklin Atkins, and A2C Dennie R. Stephens—who observed it through 7x50 binoculars. The object appeared as the size of a pinhead, initially stationary for approximately five minutes at 15 degrees elevation and 280 degrees azimuth, before climbing rapidly to the south to an estimated 60 degrees elevation. A T-33 aircraft, piloted by 1/LT Robert Bowers with Colonel W.E. Byerts, Jr. as a passenger, was notified by the tower and subsequently observed the object. Both the tower operators and the flight crew were unable to identify the object, though the flight crew noted that their description matched that of the tower operators. The weather conditions included a slight haze and a slight inversion at 5,000 feet. Following the incident, the case was evaluated by intelligence personnel, including 1/LT Jon D. Nylander. The official conclusion reached was that the object possessed all the characteristics of a balloon, and the T-33 crew considered this a plausible explanation. The case was subsequently closed as a balloon sighting.