UFO Sighting Report — Tampa, Florida, April 1965

On April 5, 1965, at approximately 0200Z, a civilian witness in Tampa, Florida, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness, described as a proprietor with good reliability, reported seeing a luminous, slightly blue, elongated light while in his backyard. The object appeared to be positioned behind a large cloud mass, shining through it. As the cloud moved, the light remained visible through openings, and its intensity did not vary. The witness noted that the light was stationary. After the cloud mass passed over the light, it suddenly disappeared as if the trailing edge of the cloud had erased it. The observation lasted for five minutes. The witness's wife also observed the light. The report was processed by the 836 Air Division at MacDill Air Force Base. The 15 TFW Director of Intelligence evaluated the report and concluded that the phenomenon was likely a light from a ceilometer located at Tampa International Airport, which was situated to the west of the observer's home. Weather conditions at the time were reported as a clear night with few high clouds and specific wind velocity data provided for various altitudes.