Investigation Report, UFO Sighting, 3 August 1965, Santa Ana, California

This document is a comprehensive record of the investigation into a UFO sighting reported by Rex Heflin, a traffic investigator for the Orange County Road Department, on August 3, 1965, in Santa Ana, California. Heflin claimed to have observed and photographed a silver, circular object, approximately 30 feet in diameter, while driving on Myford Road. He reported that the object hovered, tilted, and then accelerated away, all within a 15-second period. Heflin took three Polaroid photographs of the object through his vehicle window. The investigation, conducted by Captain Charles F. Reichmuth of the Space Systems Division, involved multiple agencies, including the Marine Corps at El Toro and the Foreign Technology Division (FTD). The report details the chain of custody for the original photographs, which were passed between various military and civilian entities, including NORAD and the press, often without receipts. The investigation faced significant challenges, including discrepancies in Heflin's testimony and his reluctance to answer specific questions regarding the delay in reporting the sighting and the source of his prints. The FTD conducted a photo analysis, which concluded that the images did not match the reported visual conditions. A controlled test using a small, 9-inch object tossed in the air produced similar photographic results, leading investigators to conclude that the incident was likely a hoax. Despite these findings, the case generated significant media attention, with articles appearing in the Herald-Examiner and The Register. The document includes various internal memos, investigation reports, and copies of the press coverage, all documenting the military's attempt to verify the authenticity of the photographs and the eventual conclusion that the sighting was not genuine.