28939950.pdf

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

|  1. DATE | LOCATION | 12. CONCLUSIONS  |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  1 Oct 1951 | Ellington AFB, Texas | ☐ Was Balloon ☐ Probably Balloon ☐ Possibly Balloon  |
|  3. DATE-TIME GROUP Local 0415L GMT 01/1015Z | 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION ☐ Ground-Visual ☐ Ground-Radar ☐ Air-Visual ☐ Air-Intercept Radar | ☐ Was Aircraft ☐ Probably Aircraft ☐ Possibly Aircraft  |
|  5. PHOTOS ☐ Yes ☑ No | 6. SOURCE Military | ☑ Was Astronomical VENUS ☐ Probably Astronomical ☐ Possibly Astronomical  |
|  7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 2 3/4 hours | 8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS 1 | 9. COURSE H/A  |
|  10. BRIE…

EXTRACT FROM STATUS REPORT # 1

DATE: 2 Oct 51
TIME (Local): 1800
LOCATION: Columbus, Ohio
LENGTH OF TIME OBSERVED: 15 Sec.
SOUND: None
SPEED: High
ALTITUDE: Unknown
HEADING: 270°
SOURCE: Graduate Physicist
ACTION OR COMMENTS: No investigation. Very Possibly balloon.
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: Bright circular object.

UNCLASSIFIED

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

The following information was obtained from W-P AFB Weather Station on 22 October 1951.

The winds aloft for the Columbus, Ohio area at about 1800 on 2 Oct 1951 were:

a. SW at 10 - 15 knots up to 5000'.

b. WSW to W at 15 - 20 knots from 5000' to 20,000'.

Weather balloons are launched at 1500, 2100, 0300 and 0700 EST all through the eastern time zone.

***

CONCLUSION

Since Sourse states the object was traveling directly west, it could not have been a balloon as it would have to be traveling into the wind if it were above 5,000' or nearly into the wind at below 5,000'.

In add…

UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED

When first noticed:
White light such as the sun reflecting from mirror.

Object going west decreasing in size.

Appeared to be orange when farther away.

PANE GOING east

Enlarged drawing of object.
Circle in vertical plane going away from source, i.e. into the paper.

PARKING LOT
CAB

OLD
OHIO
UNION.

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS;
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.
DOD DIR 5200.10

UNCLASSIFIED

CONFIDENTIAL
Lt. Col. M. J. Piatnitza
-2-
UNCLASSIFIED
October 9, 1951

Source looked up into the air to observe the DC-3 because the DC-3 caused considerably more noise than was normally expected. As the source looked away, he caught sight of a light above and to the west of the DC-3. His first impression was that he had observed a flash which caused his eye to return to the original spot. The next impression was that the object was a balloon. He continued to look at the object to notice any ascent or descent. In continuing to watch for an ascent or descent, he noticed that this object was no…

CONFIDENTIAL
UNCLASSIFIED
505 King Avenue
Columbus 1, Ohio
October 9, 1951

Lt. Col. M. J. Piatnitzza
P. O. Box 4118
Headquarters, AMC
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Dayton, Ohio

Dear Colonel Piatnitzza:

**Report of Information on Unconventional Aircraft**

The following information regarding the sighting of an unconventional aircraft is forwarded as a matter of interest pertaining to your Center:

**A. Source**

Graduate physicist, no aircraft experience, age 29, member permanent staff Battelle Memorial Institute.

Date of Sighting: Tuesday evening, October 2, 1951, around 6 p.m.; weather …