Unidentified Flying Object Sighting Report — Pope AFB, North Carolina, 5 June 1965

On 5 June 1965, at 0436 Zulu, two Air Traffic Controllers, TSgt Roland C. Eaton and AlC W. C. Watt, stationed at the control tower of Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, observed an unidentified aerial object. The object was described as a white light, approximately the size of a half-dollar, traveling from north to south at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 feet. The witnesses reported that the object moved at a high rate of speed, faster than any jet aircraft they had previously observed. The sighting lasted between three and four seconds, after which the object disappeared to the south. The observers noted that the object produced no sound and left no trail or exhaust. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with 5 to 8 miles of visibility. The 3d Weather Squadron, Detachment 20, confirmed clear conditions with seven miles visibility and specific wind data for the period. 1st Lt Harold D. Eastridge of the 778 Troop Carrier Squadron conducted an investigation into the incident. He concluded that there was no physical evidence available and, despite researching potential causes such as weapons firing, weather phenomena, and astronomical data, he was unable to provide a logical explanation for the sighting. However, the official conclusion recorded on the report form identifies the object as an astronomical event, specifically a meteor.