Project 10073 Record — Condon, Oregon, 5 June 1966

On 5 June 1966, at approximately 0500Z, a civilian witness—identified as the Postmaster of Condon, Oregon—observed an object in the sky approximately 15 miles south of Condon. The witness reported seeing an object that resembled a low-flying aircraft at an altitude of 2,000 feet. The object was described as trailing fire with burning pieces falling off, leading the observer to believe they were witnessing a crippled aircraft in distress. The observation lasted for a duration of three to four seconds. The 26 Air Division conducted an investigation into the incident, which was documented under Project 10073. While the witness's initial assessment suggested an aircraft, the official conclusion reached by the Air Force intelligence officers was that the object was an 'Astro' or meteor. This conclusion was supported by the fact that there were no reports of any downed aircraft in the area. The report includes detailed meteorological data for the time of the sighting, indicating clear skies and high visibility, which would have been conducive to such an observation. Major F-6 A. F. Shifflett of the 26 Air Division prepared the final report, noting that while the descriptions provided by the witness were consistent with an aircraft, the lack of corroborating evidence regarding a crash led to the classification of the event as a meteor.