Sighting Report — Dayton, Ohio, 5 November 1964

On November 5, 1964, a civilian witness in Dayton, Ohio, reported observing an unidentified aerial phenomenon for approximately 45 minutes, beginning at 0310Z. The witness described the object as a red and white light that appeared brighter than a star and was sharply outlined. According to the report, the object exhibited erratic motion, moving back and forth across the sky in a slightly circular pattern. The witness noted that the object first appeared in the East and eventually disappeared in the East as well. The sky was clear during the observation, and the witness reported that the object did not move behind any clouds. The witness stated there was no sound associated with the object and that it appeared to be close. The report was filed with the U.S. Air Force and processed by a Duty Officer, Lt. Dwight O. Casteel. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the sighting was astronomical in nature, specifically identifying the object as the star Betelgeuse, noting that other planets like Venus, Mars, and Jupiter were not in the appropriate position at the time of the sighting.