Sighting of 'Fiery Object' in Sky — Littleton, Illinois, July 20, 1964

This document collection details an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) sighting reported by Airman First Class Lowell F. Buffett on July 20, 1964. While driving eastbound on State Route 101 near Littleton, Illinois, at approximately 4:45 A.M., the witness observed a shadowy, cone-shaped object rising straight upward from a wooded area. The object, estimated to be 60 feet in diameter, emitted fire from its base and appeared to have sparks fanning out around its edges. The witness initially considered it a jet, then a rocket-powered craft, before concluding it might be a 'flying saucer.' The object climbed to 1,500 feet, leveled off, and then performed a sharp loop, reversing its course to head east while climbing to 3,500 feet. During this maneuver, the object's appearance changed from reddish-purple to a bluish-yellow 'ball of fire' before disappearing from sight. The witness reported no unusual sounds and noted that the sky was clear and dark. The report was forwarded through the Selective Service System to the Air Force, as the witness was a clerk at the Illinois Headquarters. The Foreign Technology Division (FTD) of the Air Force Systems Command reviewed the report and requested further information via a standard technical information sheet, noting that the initial account lacked sufficient detail for a formal evaluation. Correspondence from the Dearborn Observatory at Northwestern University suggests that the witness was considered highly reliable and meticulous, and that his account remained consistent under questioning. The document includes official military correspondence, the witness's written statement, a sketch of the object's maneuvers, and administrative records regarding the witness's military status and the routing of the report to the appropriate Air Force authorities.