Unidentified Flying Object Sighting Report — Chesapeake, Virginia, May 1965

On May 3, 1965, at 0125Z, a civilian observer named Mr. Etheridge reported a sighting of an unidentified flying object in Chesapeake, Virginia. The witness, described as reliable and well-informed, observed a round, star-like object for approximately four minutes. The object was initially seen at 40 degrees elevation and 160 degrees azimuth. According to the report, the object appeared to move downward and to the west for about 80 degrees, then shifted toward the east while continuing to move downward for another 8 degrees, before moving straight down to a 20-degree elevation. At this point, the object either flared up or burst and disappeared. The witness used 7x35 binoculars to aid his observation. The 4500th Air Base Wing conducted an investigation, which included checking with Naval Air Operations, NASA Wallops Station, and Marine Air Wings at Cherry Point; no illumination activity was reported by these agencies. The final conclusion reached by the preparing officer, Captain Thomas E. Cauley, was that the object was a para-flare or similar weapon released at altitude. The report notes that the reported motion was likely an illusion and that the disappearance was consistent with the object passing into the Earth's shadow. Additionally, the satellite Echo 1 was confirmed to be in the area at the time of the sighting.