PROJECT BLUE BOOK

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD
1. DATE 2. LOCATION 12. CONCLUSIONS
1 Aug 61 61 Phoeniz, Arizona Phoeniz, Arizona 0 0 Was Balloon
x X X Probably Balloon Probably Balloon
3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION 0 Possibly Balloon
Local 1930 Ground-Visual Ground-Radar Ground-Radar 0 Was Aircraft
000 00 Probably Aircraft
GMT. 020230Z 020230Z AirVisual Air-Intercept Radar Possibly Aircraft
5. 5. PHOTOS 6. SOURCE D Was Astronomical
Yes 000 00 Probably Astronomical
No Civilian Possibly Astronomical Possibly Astronomical
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 8. 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS NUMBER OF OBJECTS 9. 9. COURSE COURSE 00 Other.
Insufficient Data for Evaluation Insufficient Dato for Evaluation
0 Unknown
10 min 1 NE
0. BRIeF sUMMARY oF siGHTING Oblong or barrel shaped, 11. coMMENts3 separete sightings, mostly
black or gray; smoke seen rising fm objt. egreed on size and shape to conform to
Slight reddish glow was observed at same point balloon. However appeared to be partieu arl
smoke appeared to be coming from. Appeared to low and not rising. Remained in area and
be floating or drifting. none watched disappearance. Observation
covered 2 hr period. Winds below 50,Ooo
did not exceed lo kt, therefore no swift
movement in direction would be noted. Af
observers indicated smoke coming fm objt
This and fact that objt did not rise
rapidly are not explainable. Other indidat
tions point to balloon released in aree
preceeding observation.
ATIC FORM 329 (REV 26 SEP 52)
.

HEADQUARTERS
4SIOTH COMBAT CREW TRAINING WING (TAC FTR)
UNITED STATES AIR FORGE
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE
ARIZONA
REPLY TO ATTN OFI OB
SUBJECTI Unidentified Flying Object 9 AUG 1961
TO: Foreign Technology Division
Wright Patter son AFB, Ohio
The following is forwarded in compliance with Air Force Regulations The following is forwarded in compliance with Air Force Regulations
200-2, 14 September 1959, and 200-2A, 2 February 1960. 200-2, 14 September 1959, and 200-2A, 2 February 1960. Attachment No. 1
is a diagram received from Mr as to what this object
appeared to be.
a. Description of Description of Object: Object:
One group of observers reported the shape of the object was he shape of the object was
oblong or elliptical. Another Another group rep object to object to
be barrel shaped. be parrel shaped.
(2) Size of the object was reported by one group to be the size
of a twenty man life rart, estimated to be ten feet by fifteen feet.
The second report assumed the same size and shape comparable to that of .
a fifty-five gallon oil drum standing on its end, approximately five
feet in diameter and ten feet long.
() Reports of color varied from black to gray.
4) One object was sighted.
(5) N/A.
(5) Observed as a clear outline of this elliptical or cylinderical
object with no windows. One observer reports that a foot above the cylin-
derical object there appeared to be indentations around the circumference
of the bottom of the drum.
and that from the
bottom center of the object a slight reddish glow was observed at the observed at the
same point that the smoke appeared to be coming from.
(8) No sound.
9) (9) No other pertinent or unusual features reported.

b. Description of Course of Object:
(2) All reports agree that the elevation of this object was
approximately looo to l2oo feet at a distance of a mile and one-half to
two miles from the point of observation. One additional observer drove
to the vicinity and looked up at the object and estimated that the alti-
tude was l000 to 1200 feet.
the object disappear
(4) Object appeared floating drifting in a northeasterly
direction. direction.
(5) When object was last seen, it was When object was last seen, it was drifting drifting slowly in a north-
easterly direction. No one observed object disappear. easterly direction. No or sappear.
(6) Majority of viewers estimated they watched the object for
ten minutes, got tired and went into the house.
c. c. Manner of Observation: Manner of Observation:
1) Ground-visual.
binoculars.
(3) N/A.
a- Time and Date of Sighting:
First sighting: 0230Z, 2 August 1961. Second sighting:
0251Z, 2 August 1961. Third Sighting: 0428Z, 2 August 1961.
dusk.
e. Location of
2. Identifying Information on Observers:
(1) (1) Civilian - Mr. Civilian - Mr. age age
Phoenix, , Arizona, school Arizona, school teacher teacher at at chool, reliability nool, reliability
unknown.
Civilian - Mr. (2) Civilian - Mr. age 35,
2 Phoenix, Arizona, unemployed, Phoenix, Arizona, unemplc unknown.
Civilian - Mr. age 28 age 28.
Phoenix, Arizona, Allison Steel Technician, reliability unknown. Phoenix, Arizona, Allison Steel Technician, reliability unknown.
2

g. Weather and Winds - Aloft Conditions at Time and Place of Sightings:
(1) Observers account of weather conditions: fairly clear, dark
and light clouds in the vicinity and distance. Occasional lightning from
cloud to cloud and clou ground.
in degrees and knots:
6,000 340 O at 1OK
10,000 ft - 230 at 3K
16,000 ft - 1500 at 1OK
20,000 ft - 140 O at 8K
30,000 ft- 1500 O at 9K
50,000 ft - 150 at 12K
80,000 ft 080 at 35K
) Ceiling - general ceiling of high broken to high overcast
between the hours of OOZ and 0500z hours.
4) Visibility at 0200z 40 4; at 0300z 35 t; at 0400z 15 +.
(5) Approximately 14,ooo ft scattered sky condition with a high
(7) Gradual_ temperature gradient decreasing from 4 22° at
50,000 ft.
h. No other unusual activity
i. No interception or identification action taken.
j. The known air activity was at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Weather
balloons were reported to have been flown in the preceeding forty-eight
hour period. As of this date, none of the balloons have been recovered.
Second report - Yuma Marine Corp Test Station reported t rmy tested
ten weather balloons between the hours of l3oo and l8oc urs, Tuesday,
1 Augist l96l, at one-half hour intervals. These balloons will expand to 1 August l96l, at one-half will expand to
seven ieet in diameter while some others may reach as much as forty feet seven Teet in diameter while some othe ers may reach as as forty feet
in diameter. They are radio equipped and have parachute packages attached
for jettison. They are released at ground level and have been known to
fly at approximately 75,ooo feet.
k. k.: Preparing officer ist n, AO 8l2076, Assistant
Base Operations Officer at Luke AFB. It is his belief that this sighted
object could have been one of the balloons released by either Yuma or
Fort Huachuca, which could have drifted over this area at high or medium
altitude. Due to the atmosphere conditions, the time of day (dusk), the
3
.

possibility of optical illusion coupled with untrained observers could
be the reason for the statements that the object was observed to be at
looo to l2oo feet. The report of the slight fire and smoke coming from
the center of the drum-shaped object is unexplainable by the investigating
officer.
FOR TH COMMANDER:
J.J. McKENNA 1 Atch
J. J. McKENNA Diagram drawn by Mr
1st LT. USAF
Asst. DirectorofAdministration Asst. Director of Administration
4

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