UFO Sighting Report — Bedford, Virginia, 25 January 1965

On January 25, 1965, at 1555Z, a civilian witness at the Harry White Dairy Farm, located three miles north of Bedford, Virginia, reported observing an unidentified aerial object. The witness, a maid, described the object as square in shape, larger than a football field, and appearing to be constructed of aluminum. The object featured small protrusions on its sides that were smaller than the wings of an aircraft. The witness observed the object for approximately three to five minutes while hanging clothes. She reported that the object flew from east to west at a very slow speed and at a very low altitude. The witness initially observed the object at 30 degrees elevation and 080 degrees azimuth, and finally at 45 degrees elevation and 050 degrees azimuth. The witness stated she had heard a jet aircraft, looked up, and saw the jet; as the jet passed out of sight, she noticed the object behind it. The report was officially classified as unreliable by the 649th Radar Squadron at Bedford Air Force Station. The investigating officer, 1st Lt. Francis X. Kelly, noted that it was unlikely for a witness to observe such a large, unusual object and then prioritize hanging clothes for three hours before reporting the incident. Furthermore, the report mentions that two UFO sightings occurred in the area on the same day, separated by approximately 15 miles. While the investigator acknowledged that all witnesses involved in these reports appeared reliable, he noted that the conflicting descriptions—one cigar-shaped and one square—made it difficult to confirm the sightings as related. A weather balloon released from Charleston, West Virginia, was suggested as a possible explanation for the cigar-shaped object, but the investigator concluded he could offer nothing more definite regarding the square object.