Project 10073 Record Card and Supplemental Information — Grants, New Mexico, 26 April 1964

On 26 April 1964, a science teacher and audio-visual coordinator, accompanied by his 11-year-old son, observed an unidentified aerial object near Grants, New Mexico. The witness, who was experiencing car trouble on Highway 66, reported seeing the object three times between 0340Z and 0510Z. He described the object as cigar-shaped or elliptical, approximately 27 to 30 feet in length, featuring an extreme red light on top that pulsed three times per second, and a strong white light shining downward that illuminated the terrain. During the third sighting, a local garage mechanic who had stopped to assist the witness also observed the object and noted it made a 'terrific noise' when it passed overhead earlier in the evening. The witness, who had aviation experience, estimated the object was flying at an altitude of 500 feet. He initially considered if it were a navigation light but concluded it was not. He also noted that while radar bases were nearby, he doubted they could track the object due to ground clutter. The witness took photographs using a 35mm Japanese camera. Following an investigation by Major William C. Harrelson of the 4516th Combat Crew Training Squadron, the Air Force concluded that the object was an aircraft conducting a low-level night photo reconnaissance mission for Project Cloud Gap. The aircraft utilized a strobe light instead of conventional navigation lights. The photographs taken by the witness were processed by the Kodak Company and returned to the Air Force, but were found to be blank, containing no image of the object.