Project 10073 Record Card — Rivesville, West Virginia, 9 February 1964

This document contains the official Air Force record and subsequent correspondence regarding a UFO sighting reported by Jennings Frederick, Jr., in Rivesville, West Virginia, on February 9, 1964. The witness, a 14-year-old student, reported seeing an object moving west, described as having a red outer edge, a blue middle, and a white center, with a 'trailer tail.' The witness estimated the object's speed at 2,000 to 3,000 mph and noted that it appeared to stop in mid-flight for approximately five seconds. The report was forwarded to the Foreign Technology Division for evaluation. Major George Mills, II, a meteorologist, conducted an analysis of the incident. He concluded that while no unusual meteorological phenomena were observed in the area, the sighting could be explained by a radiosonde balloon released from Huntington, West Virginia, on February 10, 1964 (noting the date discrepancy in the report). Vector analysis indicated the balloon could have been in the vicinity of Rivesville at the time of the sighting. Major Mills further hypothesized that if the balloon had developed a leak or a large break, it could have remained at an altitude where it was visible, and the reported wind patterns at high altitudes suggested the balloon was no longer rising. The Air Force subsequently communicated this explanation to the witness, emphasizing that while such sightings are often reported, they are generally attributed to logical causes such as weather phenomena, aircraft, or balloons. The file includes the original record card, the witness's correspondence seeking information, and the official responses from the Air Force.