Preliminary Investigation of UFO Reports, May 17-22, 1964

This document is a preliminary investigation report compiled by William T. Powers of the Dearborn Observatory, dated May 22, 1964, regarding a series of UFO sightings in Indiana and Michigan. The investigation was initiated following a request by J. A. Hynek, Director of the Dearborn Observatory, after UPI reports of sightings in Lansing, Michigan. The report details a multi-location survey of police departments and witness accounts. In Hartford, Indiana, Officer Robert Meredith and another witness reported an orange light low in the northwest sky, which the investigator concluded was likely the planet Venus. In Lansing, Michigan, the investigation identified a series of reports of 'weird noises' that were tentatively linked to a police emergency run involving a new 'warbling' siren. However, other reports from Lansing, including sightings of blue or blue-green lights and objects with multiple white lights on their undersides, could not be explained by the siren or astronomical phenomena. One witness reported a 'flying saucer' landing in Grand Ledge, though a police investigation found no evidence. Another report involved a woman who discovered a burned area in her yard after hearing a 'whirring' sound. The investigator emphasizes that while many reports can be attributed to known causes like police activity or astronomical bodies, others require more detailed investigation. The document concludes with a list of police agencies and contacts for further follow-up.