Project 10073 Record — Port Harrison, Canada, 21 July 1966

This document details the investigation of an unidentified aerial observation reported on July 21, 1966, near Port Harrison, Canada. A single witness observed a balloon-shaped object for approximately two hours. The object was described as having a blue dome-shaped top, a white body, and cords hanging down with a small object attached. It was estimated to be five feet wide and seven feet high, moving southwest at approximately five miles per hour at an altitude of 20,000 feet. The Canadian Meteorological Service initially reported the sighting to the U.S. Weather Bureau, which subsequently contacted the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for assistance in identification. Multiple agencies, including the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Office of Naval Research, were consulted to determine if any weather or research balloons could account for the sighting. While officials noted that the description was consistent with a balloon, they were unable to identify a specific launch that matched the observation. Several reviewers, including Maj. Smith, suggested that while the object likely originated from a station like Ft. Churchill or another facility within a 500-nautical-mile radius, confirming the exact track would require significant effort. Ultimately, the investigation concluded that the object was a balloon, and because no national security threat or scientific value was identified, the Air Force decided that further expenditure of resources to track the object was not justified.