PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
I. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
0 Was Balloon
Nor or Dec 59 Clarkston, Michigan EX Probably Balloon
DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION Possibly Balloon
Local0700Z Ground-Visual Ground-Radar Was Aircraft
000 Probably Aircraft
GMT. AinVisual Air-Intercept Radar Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE 0 Was Astronomical
AYes 000 Probably Astronomical
No Civilian Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. COURSE Other
000 Insufficient Data for Evaluation
Unknown
l - 2 hrs 1 - 2 hrs one one N to S N to S
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
White, egg-shaped obj, size of grapefruit, White, egg-shaped obj, size of grapefruit, The obj sighted probably was a sighted probably was a
four times brighter light than any star, rear four times brighter light than any star, rear weather balloon. This rpt was not
of obj left a trail of light. submitted until 6 or 7 months after
the sighting and then theinfo was the sighting and then theinfo was
limitef. limited.
l
Director Director
Maxwell AFB, ATTN: Archive Aerospace Stu
SMG SMO Maxwell AFB, Alab Aerospace Studies Nov 19159 K213.6012
ATTN: Archives Brchch RETU a
RETURN
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ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52) opma Inst

and Mrs
2. Due to the ambiguities involved concerning the date and time of
the sighting, detailed analysis of this report, at this level, is
extremely difficult;however, the only real time clue found under the
weather and winds section of the report was pursued and revealed the
following information:
a. The first snowfall for the area concerned was listed as trace
only and recorded on 18 November 1959. The weather was clear,
temperature 27 egrees and winds WSW 4K.
b. The b. The first snowfall first snowfall for for the year that rembined that remkined night night
recorded on 28 November 1959. recorded on 28 November 1959. The The recorded weather recorded weather at time of
sighting reads high clouds sighting reads high clouds 2/10 sky ycoverage, temperature coverage, temperature
and winds NNW 6K. This is the most probable date of the sighting and
based on this precept the following information was revealed.
(1) Aircraft of
- the length of time observed.
(2) The possibility that a weather balloon may have been
sigheed was investigated with results as follows:
a. The meterology section located at Flint, Michigan
Airport Station releases two (2) weather balloons daily at O700
EST and lsoo EST. These balloons ascend at a rate of l000 FPM to an
average altitude of 80,000 feet. The balloons normally expand and
reach a diameter of thirty (30) feet then burst, however, on 28
November the balloon did not burst. It reached an altitude of S0,000
feet and developed a slow leak. At this point the recording run was
considered complete and discontinued.
b.
c. The balloon reached - I sunlight between 40 and 50
thousand feet.
1003543

d. 90% of all balloons released by the Flint Meterology
Station burst and fall within a five 5mile radius of arkston which
is 20MM ESE o1 release.
e. The exact ascent azimuth the balloon followed on the
date in question is unknown since the records are retained for 60 days
only.
3. In view of t the foregoing, it is believed that this object was
most likely to have been a weather balloon.
FOR THE COMMANDER:
Shart. dade Boh8.
E-E. CLANCY 1 Atch
Major, USAF n/c
Administrative Offfoer
.
-
2
T

OF
SElFRIDGE AFB
On 20
RO., CLARKSTON, MICHIGAN, TELEPHONED A RESPONSIBLE
OFFICIAL, ISE THAT SHE AND
FLYING OBJECT
AT 0200 HOURS IN LATE NoVember
AND HAD TAKEN 1e
2. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RECEIVED, THE FOLLOWING IS
FURNISHED PURSUANT AFR 200-2:
Description OF OBJECT:
A. SHAPE - "Egg ShApe"
B. SIZE - " "GRAPEFRUIt SIZE :1
C. COlOR - WHITE
D. Nunber - One (1)
Gc OF LIGHT.
H. Sound - None
1. OTHER PERTINENT
CONTINUeD DESCRIPtION:
A0 WHAT CAuSed OBSERVER TO NOTICE OBJECT - BrigHt
LIGHT.
B. ANGLE OF ELEVATI 450
TO HORIZON.
C. ANGLE OF ELEVATION UPON DISAPPEARANCE Same AS B.
D. FLiGht PAth - NOrtH tO SOutH THROUGH 60° ARC.
E. MAnner OF DISAPPEARANCE - FADED OUT.
F. LENGTH OF TIME IN SIGHT - ONE () TO TVO (2) HOURS.

Manner Of OBseRvAtion:
he OBSERVeD WItH - GROunD VISUAL.
B. OPTICAL AIDS - NONE
C. SIGHTED WHILE AIRBORNE - N/A
TIME AND DATE OF SIGHTING:
A. ZULU TIME AT SIGHTING ON A NIghT IN NOVeMBER
OR DECEMBER 1959 (DATE UNK).
B. LIGHT CONDITION - NIGHT, STARS SHOWING.
LOCATION OF OBSERVER:
MILES NORTH OF PONtIaC, MIChIgAN
CLARKSTON, MICHIGAN
IDENTITY OF OBSERVER:
CIVILIAN CIVILIAN
MR.& MRS AGE (UNK) (UNK)
CLARKSTON, MICHIGA CLARKSTON, MIchIg
OCCuPATION - MRS 3 DruG- CLERK AND HOUSEWIFE CLERK AND HOUSEWIFE
MR. MATeRIal MATERIAL COnTROL CLERK IN CONTROL CLERK IN
FAC
WEATHER AND WINDS:
CLeAR WeathER, LITTLE WIND AND FIRST WIND AND FIRST SNOW
- ON GROUND.
A. VIsiBility - Unlimited
B. CLOUD COVER - LITTLE TO NONE
METEROLOGICAL ACTIVITIES TO ACCOUNT FOR SIGHTING:
None
PHYSIcAL EVIDenCe:
PICTURE, 35MM
3. MRs OFFERED THE COLOR SLIDE PHOTOGRAPH WHICH
WAS ACCEPTED AND A NEGATIVE COPY MADE. THE ORIGINAL HAS
BEEN RETURNED MRs. ND THE NEGATIVE COPY IS
ATTACHED.
430F I ATCH
STAULEY V SZAPEEL PHOtO
Colonel, USAF
Commander COPY T TO: DIR OSI, w/o ATCH
2

40A
This Folder Includes
8" ll ×10"
photo
a
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J30mo00.t .17