The following is a quote from a researcher who based his information from the Project Bluebook files.
source
Jan 16, 1951; Artesia, New Mexico. Time unknown. Witnesses: Two members of a balloon project from the General Mills . Aeronautical Research
Laboratory, the manger of the Artesia Airport, and three pilots. The balloon crew was observing their 110' balloon at an altitude of 112,000' when a
dull white, round object was spotted. It appeared larger than the balloon, but made no movement. Later, the balloon crew and the others saw two
objects from the airport; flying side-by-side, they circled the balloon and flew away to the northeast. The second observation lasted about 40
seconds. Note: there is confusion over the date of this case, with some USAF records showing it as 1952; however, 1951 appears to be correct.
The record card refers to a case from 22Jan51, though this incident is from 16Jan51, this leads on to believe that this card was prepared after the
fact, though it is possible the card was updated with this line. Where is the original sighting information, was there another report? I checked for
a 22JAN51 case at Holloman AFB and found this incident which might the one referred to in the record card:
source
Jan. 22, 1951 (also given as Feb. 14, 1951)
50 miles SE [ESE?] of Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, N.M. 10 a.m.
--Primary witnesses were pilots Capt. Ernest W. Spradley of Aerial Photo Lab and Capt. James E. Cocker of All-Weather Flying Division, Air Materiel
Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Also a General Mills Aeronautical lab project engineer Mr. McAleese [sp?] and an airman, were flying in a C-47
heading E [ESE?] at about 10,000-12,000 ft and tracking a large Project GOPHER plastic balloon at about 50,000-60,000 ft when they saw a bright
star-like object seemingly next to the pear-shaped balloon or above and to the side. As they approached and flew under the balloon they noticed the
object descend to the balloon's level and grow larger in apparent size until about 1/4 to 1/2 the 70 ft balloon, when it appeared to be round and
flat like a dime, milky white or silvery in color with a clear outline....
