Project 10073 Record — Torrance, California, 11 March 1967

On March 11, 1967, four youths in Torrance, California, reported observing an unidentified aerial object while at the Carl Steele Playground. The witnesses, including Robert R. Howard and Rick Gerety, described the object as a solid, oval-shaped craft that appeared cherry red and bright silver. They reported that the object emitted a low, whining sound and moved from North to South before disappearing into a cloud. The observation lasted approximately one minute. The witnesses took photographs of the object using a Brownie Hawkeye camera. Following the sighting, the witnesses contacted the Air Force and the local newspaper, the Daily Breeze. The case was subsequently investigated by the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) under Project Blue Book. The FTD requested the original negatives for analysis. However, the photographic evidence provided by the witnesses was deemed suspicious. Analysis by the FTD revealed that the transparencies were not original negatives; they were likely enlargements. Furthermore, the film type (Verichrome Panchromatic) was black and white, whereas one of the transparencies was in color. The FTD also noted that the cut of the transparencies did not match the standard 127 film size used in the camera described. Due to these discrepancies, the Air Force officially filed the case under the category of 'Conflicting Data.' Correspondence between the witnesses and the Air Force continued through the summer of 1967, with the witnesses expressing reluctance to hand over the negatives, citing advice from friends, including a member of N.I.C.A.P. and a person identified as Elvis Presley. The Air Force maintained that further analysis was impossible without the original negatives.