UFO Sighting Report — Altavista, Virginia, January 1965

This document consists of a series of incoming Air Force staff messages dated February 4, 1965, regarding a UFO sighting reported near Altavista, Virginia. A female witness, described as a mature and rational hairdresser, reported observing unidentified objects on the nights of January 27 and 28, 1965. The witness described the objects as bright lights, ranging in size from a golf ball to a baseball, which appeared to maneuver erratically around aircraft in the vicinity. The objects were observed for approximately one hour each night, with individual sightings lasting between three and ten seconds. The witness noted that the objects would flash and reappear in different locations, occasionally leaving a faint, wisp-like trail. The investigation, conducted by 1st Lt. Francis X. Kelly, involved checks with the FAA tower in Lynchburg and the Washington Air Defense Sector, both of which reported no aircraft under their control in the area at the time. However, the ARTCC watch supervisor at Leesburg, Virginia, confirmed that there was light to moderate air traffic in the area on both nights and that the sighting location was in the vicinity of two active refueling zones. Based on these findings, the investigating officer concluded that the reported phenomena were likely military aircraft involved in refueling operations or a combination of military and civilian air traffic.