PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD 2. LOCATION Potomac, Maryland 12. CONCLUSIONS 0 Wos Balloon 0 Probo\.ly Bolloo" DAT!TIMI CROUP .4. TYP! 0' OISI!RVATION Local 2005 ~ Grouncl. VI suol 0 AI~Vhual e. if cw oaJeCTs ~0 minutes 10. lltiiP SUMMARY OP SIGHTING )bject observed at sunset by three college 0 GroundRodar 0 Airlnterupt Rac:lar 9. COUitse 0 Wos Aircraft a Probably Aircraft 0 Possibly Aircroh 0 Wos Astrono.,.lcol 0 Probably Astrono.,.ical 0 Po uiW, AstreRela.a 0 Insufficient Dot fer Evaluation 11. COMMENTS Contact with NCAR r evealed that Jrofessors. Object moved behind clouds during )bservation. Appeared as a bright point of ligh~. ~lightly brighter than Sirius. Extremely slow object was possible balloon. ngular motion. Speed regular. Emphasis on poin~ )f light as the object. Speed computed 6 sec of arc per min. Object close to moon ~ deg) Witness h as Phd in EE, ~5 in physics. ATIC POitM J2t (It& 21 laP 12) HEADQUARTERS FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIVISION AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND U""ITEC STATES AIR ~ORCE WRIOHTPATTERSO .... AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO A TTII 0 F: Evaluation of UF'O Sighting Hq USAF SAF-OIPB (Mrs Gaiser) To: Wash 25 D C '!be i.nformation is proYided in order that Dr , of Potoma.c, Mar;yl&Dd (phone his sighti.Ds of 29 Jul 63. may answer a. We apologize for the delay in replying. No apparent ex- planation was available when we received the information of hi~ b. A copy of his report was sent to Dr J Allen Hynek of North- western University. Subsequent investigation resulted in contact with Mr Vince Lally of the National Center for Atmospheric Research at Boulder, Colorado. c. On 24 Jul 63 three research balloons were launched from Palestine, Texas. These balloons carried an instrument package with an automatic triggerif.ng device to separate this package after 120 hours of fl.ighf. Two of the packages were recovered. The third balloon vas tracked across the United States, up into Canada, back down through Maine and New Hampshire. After 102 hours the track vas lost with the balloon heading Southwest toward the Eastern coastal states. The estimated continued flight wou~d place the balloon in the vicinity of land at the time of his sight!~. The package from this balloon vas not recovered. Since this package was not recovered, ve cannot positively identify the object in his sighting as this balloon. However all other aspects of the case indicate that this is a possible cause of the sighting d. We are attaching two articles from the Science Newsletter, indicating the establishment of the above program. e. Should desire further information regarding this program, he may contact Mr Vince Lally at Boulder, Colorado. FOR THE COMMANDER ERIC T de JONCKHE:ERE Colonel, USAF /J1 ~ ,L Deputy for Technology and Subsystems November 13, 1963 We must apologize for the delay in answering you concerning your Ieported sighting of July 29, 1963. A copy of your report was sent to Dr. J. Allen Hynek or Northwestern University for his eva1Uc.~.t1on and a subsequent investigation resulted in our con~ tacting Mr. Vince Lally of the National Canter or Atmospheric Research at Boulder, Colorado. Investigation reveals that on July 24, 1963 three research balloons were launched from Palestine, Texas. These balloons carried an instrument package with an automatic triggering device to separate the package after 120 hours of flight. Two of the packages were recovered. The third balloon was tracked across the United States, up into Canada, back down through Maine and New Hampshire. After 102 hours the track was lost with the balloon heading southwest toward the eastern coastal states. The estimated continued flight ~lould place the balloon in the Maryland vicinity at the time of your sighting. The packag~ from this balloon was not recovered and therefore we cannot positively identif'y your sighting as this particular balloon even though all other aspecta of the case indicate that this was the possible cause. We are attachtng two articles from the Science New3letter indicating the establishment of the above program. Should you desire Y further information on the program~ you may desire to contact Mr. Vince Lally at Boulder, Colorado Sincerely~ !~!ASTON M. .JACKS Major, USAf" Public In~ormation Division Offica of Information Jlotomao, iia~y l and U.Sr AtR FORCE TECHNlCA;.. INFOR.'AATION Thi.s questionnaire has been prepared so that Y-'U can give the U.S. Air J=or::'t as m"'ch information as possible concerning the unidentified aorlal phenomenon 1hot y~u hew~ obUN$J. Please try to answer as many questions as you passibi>' can. Th~ information that you gi""' wiil be usd for research purposes. Your name will not be u~d in connection 'Nith ony tt~rr.~nts, conclusions, or publications without your permission. We reqlJest this personal information !So that if It is d ........ necessary, we may contact you for further detai Is. 1. When did you see the object? 3. Time Zone: (Circle One): cv-East;jj c. Mountain d. Pacific 4. WheN were you when you saw the object? Ho11r Minute a (Ci rei., One): (Circle One): Neorast Postal Aclcfreu Chy or Town Stot \M County 5. How long was obiect fn sight? (Total Duration) c. Not very sure b. Fairly certain d. Ju5t a guess 5.2 Was object in sight continuously? 6. What was the condition of the slcy? DAY NIGHT b . Cloudy 7. IF you sow the object during DAYLIGHT, where was tha SUN located as you looked at lne objact? (Circle One}: o. In front of you b. In back of you ~ To your right d. To your J,::ft e. Ovcrhe~ f. D on't 1"9memb~r FTD OCT 62 164 Thla for"' aupened .. PTO 16, Jul 61, which le oboht . 8. IF you saw the object at NIGHT, what did you notice concerning the STARS and MOON? 8.1 STARS (Circle One): 8.2 MOON (Circle One): ~ Bright moonli~t A few b Dull moonlight c. No moonlight-pitch dark d. Don't remember d. Don't remember 9. What were the weather conditions at the tlf'!'e you saw the object? CLOUDS (Circle OM): WEATHER (Circle On.): a. Clecar a&cy ~Scattered clouds(~e.;~ ........ J~ -'""~ d. Thick or heaYy clouds 10. The obi ect appeared: (Circle One): @As a light b. Fog, mist, cw li~t rain c. Moderate 01 hoayy rain e. Don't remember b. Transparent e. Don't rall'tembet If it appeal'ed as a li~t, waa it brighter than the brlghiest stars? (Circle One}: ([;I Bri"ter;. C3t,. rt-<'{t..f c. About' the same b. Dimmer d. Don't know 11.1 Compare brlghtna .. to eome commo" olfect: 12. Th. edges of the object ware: (Circle One): a. Fuzzy ar blurr.cl . @Like a,brlght star c. ShCitply outlined d. Don't remember 13. Did the object: Yes @ Don't kno..., ~ Yes ~ Don't know ~ Yes Qfs, Don't kno'H 1 o. Appear to stand still at any time? b. Suddenly speed up and rush away atony time? c. Break up into parts ar explode? d. Give off smoke? es A\'fo Don't know Yes eN~ Don't know .. Yes Qfo Don't know 1 Yes CN<n Don't know :! e. Change brightness? f. Change shape? g. Flash or flicker? h. Disappear and reappor~ 14 . Did the object disappear while you were watc:hlng it? If Go, how? 15 . Did the obiect mcwe behind aomething at any time, particularly a cloud? {Circle One): ~ No Oor\'t Know. IF you answered YES, then tell whot 16 . Old tfte object mew ht frant of fOITIthlng at any time, particularly o cloud? {Circle One): Don't Know. IF you anawerttd YES, tnen tell what 17. , Tell.in a few wotda the following thing obowt the object: lt. Co lot 18. We wish to know the angvlor alze. Hold a motch atick ot arm' length In line with a lcnown object and noht how much of the obiect Ia covered by the head of the ~tch. If you hod performed thIs eJCperi~t at the time of the sfghtlng, how much of the c~t would have a,,," covered by the match heod? Do you think you con estimate the speed of the obiect? (Circle One) {Ye~ No IF you answered YES, then what ap1ed would you estimate? ~ - 21. Do you think you con estimate how far away from you the object wos? (Circle One) IF you answered YES, then how far away would you say it was?-------- Where were you locate~ whenyw sow the obiect? (Circle One): - a. Inside a building b. In a cor I d. In an airplane (type) 23. Were you (Circle On.) a. In the buaineaa NC1ion of a ci'ty? b. In the Naid.ntial aection of a city? ~In open countryald.? . d. Neor an airfield? e. Flying over a city? f. Flying 'Nif open coYntty? IF you were MOVING IN AN AUTOMOBILE or other vehicle at the time, then cOtnplete th foHowin9 ~estlona: 24.1 Whot direction were you moving? (Circle One) a. North c. East b. Northeast d. Southeast f. Southw.st How fast we you mtNing? .mile per hour. Did you atop at any time whfle you were loolcing at theobiect? (Circle Otttt) h. Northwest 25. Did you observe the obiect through any of the following? a. Eyegiosses <Y~ . No e. Binoculars Yes No b; Sun glasses Yes No f. Telescope Yes No- c. Windshield Yes No 9 Theodolitfi Yes No / cl. Window gloss Yes No h. Other ' In order that you can gl-as clecw a plctu<e as possible af what yau saw, describe 111 your aWn words a com"""' l object or objects which, when placed up in the sky, would give the some appe<lronc os the object whieh you ~ow/ In the following alcetch, imagine that you or at the point shown. Place on "A" on the curved liM to lhoW how the obieet waa abcwe the horizon (skyline) when you lirst sow it. PJae a "B" on t.P same curved IJne to ahow how high the obict waa ailove the horizon (skyline) when y04J last $QW it. Place on ... A.-on the compos when you lirst aaw it. Place a .. B" en th compass whet you last saw the obieet. 28. ,Draw a picture that will ahow the motion that the.obiect or obicta mad. P.l<~c en "A .. at the begiMh\8 of th path, a "B" at the end of the path, and show any changes in direction durlr1g the cow X IF there waa MORE THAN ONE object, then how many wer there? ---. ------- Draw a picture of how they were arranged, and put an onow to show the direction that th.y .wr traveling. 30. Have you ever seen this, or a similar object before. If so givet dote or dates and location. 31. Was anyone else with you at the time you saw the object? (Circle One) 31.1 IF you answered YES, did.they sH the obiect too? (Circ:le One) 31.2 Please list their names and addresses: 32. Please give the following information about yourself: Last Nome Firat Home Indicate any additional information about yourself, including any special experience, which might be pertinent. 33. When and to wham did you report that you had seen the obiec:t? 34. Date you cOtRplttect this questior-.naire: Do~ d --M-o-nt_h 35. Information which you f .. I pee tinent and which Ia not adequately covered in the specific points of the queatlonnoi,. or narrative explanation of yo.N sighting. OFFIClAL FILE COPY Requ .. t for lvaluatioD of UlO (DJ- 1. 'of" Potoaac Mar7laad (phone aicb~ ~uDldeutifled flJiD object oa 29 ~aly 1963,. th report; of bi ihtiq forwarded to on i ID or. 164. Dr. lucled a requeet that he be notified of the CODGlaioD CODcerDiDC the caae. 2. At thi tl .. , are unable to evalQate the aiabtimg A copy of tbe report hu for to Dr. J. AlleD Hynek of Kortbweateru UDiverait7. coatacted ia the future. 3. Additioaal witDe to this ihtiag of V.P.I., Blacksburg, Virainia and Mr. Joha Uni it~. Baltiaore, Mar7laad . ColoDel, vag