Project 10073 Record Card — Kagoshima, Japan, November 1956

This document is a Project 10073 record card and associated incoming message forms detailing an unidentified aerial phenomenon sighting in the Kagoshima Bay area of Japan in November 1956. The incident involved a C-47 aircraft (number 08976) that observed lights of varying colors—white, reddish, and orange—which appeared to move independently of the aircraft's own maneuvers. The crew, including pilot 1st Lt Steed and a navigator from the 6122nd AC&W HQ Squadron, reported that the lights were visible for two to three minutes and were also detected as two returns on radar. Two F-86D interceptors were scrambled to investigate, but they reported nothing observed. Naval forces in the area confirmed no air operations were conducted during the period. The intelligence officer, 1/Lt Dinald J. Lomarek, noted that the crew felt certain an object was present, as the movement of the lights did not correspond to the aircraft's turns, which he argued precluded the possibility of a malfunctioning IFF return. Despite this, the official ATIC conclusion recorded on the document suggests the incident was likely an unknown aircraft rather than a UFO, attributing the radar returns to weather anomalies, noting that such effects are well-documented in similar night-time reports.