PROJECT 10073 RECORD

This document consists of a series of memos for the record dated January 4, 1967, detailing the investigation into a UFO sighting that occurred on the night of January 3, 1967. The incident involved reports from Yuma, Arizona, and various locations in California, including Bakersfield and San Diedo. Witnesses, including a United Airlines pilot, described a greenish-white object that appeared to travel straight downward for approximately 20 to 30 seconds before breaking into several pieces. The pilot initially suspected the object was a UFO but later concluded it was a large, bright meteor. The investigation involved contacting multiple military and scientific organizations, including the 27th Air Division, Yuma Proving Grounds, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, and the Kitt-Peak National Observatory. None of these organizations had records of missile activity or other anomalous events that could account for the sighting. Dr. Kron of the U.S. Naval Observatory noted that the description provided by witnesses was consistent with a large fireball, explaining that such objects can heat up the atmosphere and leave a visible trail. Consequently, the official conclusion reached by the investigating authorities was that the object was a large fireball.