PROJECT BLUE BOOK

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT CASE FILES · 1947 – 1969

CASE REFERENCE9078834

DATE OF SIGHTINGJanuary 1959

REPORTED LOCATIONNorristown Pa

FRAMES3

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Transcribed Frames

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4 PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2 LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
Was Balloon
13 Jan 59 Morristown. Pa 000 Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4 TYPE OF OBSERVATION Possibly Balloon
Local 1655 EST :Ground-Visual Ground-Radar 0 Was Aircraft
000 Probably Aircraft
GMT13/21552 AirVisual Air-Intercept Radar Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS SOURCE Was Astronomical
Yes 000 Probably Astronomical
O:No Civilian Pessibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERI NUMBER COURSE OtherSun Dor
0 Insufficient Data For Evaluation
o Unknown
50 mins one SW
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
Cigar shaped obj, color of golden sun- From description and apparent
light, seemed to be descending slowly motion, wihness probably observed
tovard the horizon. a parhelia.
)
ATiC ForM atic Form 3 26 BRP 52)
.
1
A

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horizon, and about lo degrees south of the setting sun.
It was shaped like a cigar. Its axis was vertical, as observed. Length about half the
Its color was like golden sunlight sun its was then quite red.apparent diameter of
the sun.
My first reaction was a cloud. On many counts that was rejected (no adjacent clouds; its
shallness and sharply defined and stable outline; its ultimate observation a bar of horizon
cloud, ofwlich I shall write later in these notes) bayend
Second reaction was the coon That was soon rejected (wrong shape and size; too descent
horizon. As I observed from the parked location it descended furhher and went behind a small bar of
horizon cloud. It reappeared below that bar of cloud! It was too faint in the denser horizon
atmosphere, and twilight, so that I gave up observations at l7o5. The sun had set somewhere between
1655 and 1705.
onservations, with and without
window and without my bifocals ns
I would appreciate any comment you have to make. Whenever anyone claimed to have seen
things in the sky, I have at least inwardly smiled! Although a priest by vocation
here, and a civilian chaplain at Army Hospital) I have had considerable
technical and engineering training, and continuing interest (studied astronomy
and have had considerable military training (though not service) in my youth in the 192Os. My son
is a Regular Army Infantry Officer currently learning Arabic in the FAST
Frogram, So, we t acquired a reputation as screwballs!
Cordially yours
P.S. Have been Amateur Radio
since December 1922

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0 ftt Oh
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obat 1705