Sighting of Unidentified Flying Object — Valparaiso, Chile, 11 August 1963

This intelligence report details a sighting of an unidentified flying object near Valparaiso, Chile, on 11 August 1963. The object was observed by members of the Astronomical Society of Valparaiso, including the director, Mr. Juan Frutos, from the Observatory of Paso Hondo. Witnesses described an incandescent, circular body that appeared to move in circular patterns with a magnitude reaching -7. The object was observed between 22:00 and 23:16 local time. Mr. Frutos contacted the nearby El Belloto Air Base, where Lt. Cabezas confirmed that no military aircraft were in the area at that time. The report includes detailed observations regarding the object's trajectory, color changes from yellowish-red to pale yellow and golden, and its apparent inclination. Following an investigation, the U.S. Air Attaché in Santiago concluded that the object was a NASA DC-4 aircraft. The aircraft was conducting calibration flights for a NASA tracking station located at Peldehue, Chile. The 'unidentified' appearance was attributed to a high-intensity, pulsed light beacon on the aircraft, which was used to calibrate the ground tracking system against a star background. The report was finalized on 25 October 1963 to ensure that no duplicate reports were filed by other agencies.