Project 10073 Record Card — Fallon AFS, Nevada, 17 April 1964

On April 17, 1964, at 1522Z, a radar sighting occurred at Fallon AFS, Nevada, involving two unidentified objects. The objects were described as 'blips' the size of a 'pin-head' in a stacked formation. The observation lasted for one hour and twenty-one minutes. The radar operator, A2C Edward Lowe, reported that the objects exhibited rapid changes in altitude, moving up and down, and maintained a flight path toward the southeast. The objects were initially observed at 122 degrees azimuth, 60,000 feet altitude, and 145 miles range, and were last seen at 120 degrees azimuth, 54,000 feet altitude, and 145 miles range. Weather conditions at the time were reported as calm with a high overcast and an extreme temperature inversion. The report was forwarded to the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for evaluation. G. Kalinyak of the Foreign Technology Division evaluated the report and concluded that the observation was likely caused by an extreme temperature inversion. The evaluation noted that the length of the observation and the reported wind conditions made a balloon unlikely, and the duration of the sighting made equipment malfunction or propagation anomalies unlikely. The rapid height changes were attributed to atmospheric fluctuations, noting that the antenna elevation angle was low (less than 4 degrees) and the total altitude change was only 6,000 feet. The evaluator noted that the specific type of radar used was not provided, limiting the ability to determine its full capabilities.