Project 10073 Record Card — Dale, Indiana, 14 June 1964

This document details the investigation of a reported UFO sighting on June 14, 1964, at the Gilbert Engelbrecht farm near Dale, Indiana. The witness, 18-year-old Charles Engelbrecht, reported that while watching television, the lights and TV in his home blacked out. Upon investigating outside, he observed a glowing, orange, basketball-sized object on the ground. He claimed that as he approached, he felt a tingling sensation and a mild electric shock, preventing him from moving closer. The object subsequently departed, emitting a 'whinging' sound. Physical evidence reported at the scene included a burned patch of grass, three shallow indentations in the ground arranged in an isosceles triangle, and displaced items such as a lawnmower and a can of chicken feed. Police Chief Leroy Musgrave, who arrived shortly after, reported a smell of burning rubber or sulfur. The Air Force investigation was conducted by William T. Powers of Northwestern University. Powers' final assessment, as recorded on the Project 10073 record card, was that the incident was an 'attempted hoax.' This conclusion was supported by the discovery of a wooden match near the site and reports from a local reporter, Grace Brown, regarding the witness's reputation. The file includes various documents, including newspaper clippings, correspondence, and detailed notes from the investigator, which suggest that the witness may have staged the event. The investigator also noted that similar reports of 'glowing balls' were common in the region, often attributed to natural phenomena or local pranks, and explicitly stated his opinion that the Engelbrecht case was a prank.