Project 10073 Record Card and Correspondence — Trussville, Alabama, 1963

This document collection consists of a Project 10073 Record Card and associated correspondence regarding a civilian sighting of two objects in the sky over St. Clair County, Alabama, in the spring of 1963. The witness, a resident of Trussville, Alabama, reported seeing two objects that appeared to be 'rocket type ships' or 'rocket planes' re-entering the atmosphere. The witness described the objects as bright orange and noted that they were attached to small white parachutes, which he associated with the recovery of test capsules. The witness initially hesitated to report the event, fearing it might be a classified military secret, but felt compelled to share the information. The Air Force investigated the report and concluded that the objects were indeed test vehicles. A memorandum from Major Maston M. Jacks to the Director of Information Services explains that while no specific test could be correlated due to the lack of a precise date, the description provided by the witness was consistent with the re-entry and recovery of test vehicles. The Air Force provided the witness with a Fact Sheet on Unidentified Flying Objects and Unusual Aerial Phenomena to explain their investigation program. The correspondence also includes a referral from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense to the Air Force, as the witness had originally written to Secretary of Defense McNamara. The witness's letter also touches upon personal sentiments regarding the late President John F. Kennedy and mentions his involvement in a local school project involving the display of a flag.