Topeka, KansasSeptember 1962

Insufficient Data

Summary

On September 9, 1962, a civilian in Topeka, Kansas, reported an object at dusk. The time was about 0040Z. The observer was on 37th Street South, around the 1200 block west. The object was in sight for about 20 minutes.

The man described a tear-drop shaped object the size of a silver dollar, brilliant orange in color. It had no tail, trail, sound, or unusual features. He first noticed it because of a bright reflection from the sun. It was at about 30 to 35 degrees elevation and seemed about 20 miles away. It made no maneuvers and flew straight and slow at the same elevation. It then took on the appearance of a star and faded into the distance. The direction of flight was not reported. The sky was clear.

The report was filed under Project 10073, the Air Force's official record for unidentified flying object reports. The Air Force noted the shape, description, and slow flight matched a helicopter, which was in wide use at the nearby base. The card listed the case as an aircraft sighting.

Reported location

Topeka, Kansas

Date of incident

September 1962

State / country

KS / US

Page count

4 scanned pages

USAF evaluation

unknown

Microfilm

T1206, Roll 46

Original case file scans

Original case file · scanned by NARAPage 1 of 4

View transcribed text

& es 0000 oe DRT
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; PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD :
: 1. DATE \ 2. LOCATION : 12. CONCLUSIONS i]
i
# : = Rx Hos Bolloon
g 9 September 1962 Topeka, Kansas Probably Balloon
i —— | D Possibly Balloon
§ 3. DATE-TIME GROUP 4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION
: RAP v 0 Was Aircroft
i 4 N-)
] Local Ea “DX Ground- Visual O Ground-Rador O Probably Aircroft
| CMT 10/00:407Z 0 Air Visual 0 Air-Intercept Rodor DO Possibly Aircraft
5. PHOTOS 8. S0URCE 0 Was Astronomical
a OQ Yes 3 Probebly Astronomical
4 | HKNo Civilian 1 Possibly Astronomicaol
gy 7. LENGTH OF C3SZRVATION 2. NUMBER OF OBJECTS | 9. COURSE BR IOI iiss tirstiiecens |
i 0 Insufficient Doto for Evaluation
i ; 0 Unkn
; 15-20 minutes one not rptd fall
4 i10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING 11. COMMENTS
3 Tear drop shaped object size of silver | Direction of flight not reported.
3 dollar,orange in color with no unusual | Shape, description, and duration,
‘ features, tail, trail, or sound noticed} however, are consistent with this
At 30 dgr-35 dgr elev giving appearance| analysis.
. of being about 20 miles away, No
i manauvers with flight straight and
a | slow at same elevation. Took appearance
of star and faded in distance, Sight-
i ing at dusk, Object reflected sun,
I Direction of sighting and flight not
E reported, |
¥ ATIC FORM 320 (REV 26 SEP 52)
BB
I
I
I
Lo 0 OH oa B85 AUS IRSA 0
EL ;

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Source: National Archives Catalog · NAID 28999006