UFO Observation, Watertown, South Dakota — 30 March 1965

On March 30, 1965, at approximately 9:30 PM, a 13-year-old resident of Watertown, South Dakota, observed a bright green object in the night sky. The witness, who had just returned from orchestra practice, described the object as having fuzzy edges and a tail, noting that it appeared to be made of vapor before it dissolved. The witness estimated the object's speed to be comparable to that of a DC-3 aircraft and noted that it passed through 10 degrees of arc in approximately three seconds. The witness reported no sound and stated that the object passed in front of several stars. Following the sighting, the witness wrote to the Technical Intelligence Center at Wright Field, Ohio, seeking an explanation. The Foreign Technology Division (FTD) of the Air Force Systems Command subsequently reviewed the report. Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr., Chief of the Aerial Phenomena Branch, determined that the initial information provided was insufficient for a full evaluation and requested that the witness complete an FTD Form 164. The witness complied, providing additional details about the sighting. The final conclusion recorded on the sighting report form categorized the event as an astronomical phenomenon, specifically a probable meteor.