Project 10073 Record — Sighting Report, Calumet Park, Illinois, 9 August 1965

On August 9, 1965, at 11:36 PM CST, a civilian and his wife observed a bright white object while walking their dog in Calumet Park, Illinois. The witness described the object as circular, approximately the size of a pea, and noted it was more brilliant than any star or the moon. The object traveled from due South to due North, veering slightly to the East, and remained visible for three to four minutes before disappearing instantly. The witness reported no sound and noted that the sky was extremely clear, though thin clouds indicated strong high-altitude winds. Following the disappearance of the object, the witness observed a single contrail, which he believed suggested a jet aircraft. The incident was reported to the local Civil Defense and subsequently referred to Major Dixon and the 928th Troop Carrier Group. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force, as documented in the Project 10073 record, identified the object as the ECHO II satellite. The report notes that the sighting characteristics, including the object's brightness and its disappearance as it entered the Earth's shadow, were consistent with a satellite. Clayton W. Salmonson, the Base Flight Operations Dispatcher, noted that the witness appeared sincere and calm, and suggested that the witness's own estimation of the altitude supported the conclusion that he had observed the ECHO II satellite.