Project 10073 Record Card and Incoming Message — Smithland, Iowa, August 1963

On August 13, 1963, a civilian couple, identified as Iowa farmers, reported a sighting of an unidentified aerial object near Smithland, Iowa. The report, processed by the Sioux City Air Defense Sector under Project 10073, describes a white, circular object roughly the size of a softball. The witnesses observed the object for approximately one hour and 45 minutes. According to the report, the object was initially seen in the northeast and appeared to move toward the south-southeast, exhibiting slight, erratic movements—specifically moving up, down, left, and right, though never more than one foot in any direction. The witnesses noted that the object appeared to glow brighter during these movements. The Air Force investigation, conducted by 2nd Lt. Andrew R. Davis, concluded that the object was the planet Jupiter. The report notes that Jupiter was in the east at an azimuth of 80 degrees and was very bright at the time of the sighting. The investigators attributed the reported movement and characteristics to the planet, while acknowledging that there was likely some distortion in the witnesses' estimates regarding direction and elevation. No radar contact was made, and no unusual activity was noted in the area at the time of the sighting.