Declassified UFO / UAP Document
U.S. Air Force Technical Information Questionnaire — Winchester, Virginia, July 5, 1964
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AI-Generated Summary
A 16-year-old witness reported a 30-minute sighting of a slow-moving white light in Winchester, Virginia, on July 5, 1964. The Air Force concluded the object was likely a high-altitude balloon due to insufficient data for other explanations.
This document consists of a U.S. Air Force Technical Information Questionnaire regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on July 5, 1964, in Winchester, Virginia. The witness, a 16-year-old male from Akron, Ohio, reported observing a single object at 0520 hours while traveling on Route 522. The witness described the object as a white light, similar to a first-magnitude star, which moved slowly across the sky for approximately 30 minutes before fading away. The witness noted that the object did not make any sound and occasionally flashed. The witness was accompanied by his brother and sister, and he also listed several other individuals from Akron, Ohio, as witnesses. The document includes correspondence from the witness to a television repair service, inquiring about unidentified flying objects and mentioning prior communication with Calvin W. Weiss at the Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The Air Force evaluation concluded that the object was likely a high-altitude balloon, noting that while satellites ECHO I and ECHO II were not in the area, the duration of the sighting was excessive for an aircraft and the lack of an easterly component in the flight path made a balloon the most plausible explanation. The investigation ultimately deemed the data insufficient for a firm analysis.
It was a star in motion, in other words it was a moving star.
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Official Assessment
Satellites ECHO I and ECHO II not in area at time specified. While not ruling out Satellite duration is slightly excessive and no Easterly component noted in flight. Possible a high flying Balloon. Duration excessive for a/c sighting. Insufficient Data for a firm analysis. Balloon looks like most likely cause. No wavering in flight noted and wind data not obtained.
The object was likely a high-altitude balloon, though data was insufficient for a definitive conclusion.
Witnesses
Key Persons
- Calvin W. WeissManager of educational services at the Lewis Research Center