UFO Sightings, 22 Sep 64 - Stead AFB, Nevada

This collection of documents details a series of reports concerning an Unidentified Flying Object sighted on the morning of September 22, 1964. Multiple witnesses, including civilians in Carmichael and West Sacramento, California, and military personnel at Stead AFB, Nevada, reported observing a bright, white, football-shaped object with a fluorescent vapor trail moving rapidly in a southerly direction. Witnesses described the object as having a red glow at the tail end and noted that it appeared to 'blow up' or flare before disappearing slowly. The reports were compiled by the Security and Law Enforcement Division at McClellan AFB and forwarded to the 3635th Flight Training Wing at Stead AFB. Following an investigation, the 3635th Flight Training Wing concluded that the sightings were not of an unidentified aerial phenomenon, but rather the result of an Atlas D missile launch from Vandenberg AFB, which occurred at 0608.48 local time. The military authorities noted that the accuracy of the witness descriptions allowed for this positive identification. It was suggested that the observers be notified of this finding to clarify the nature of the event.