Project 10073 Record: Sighting in Tinley Park, Illinois, 5 August 1965

This document details a Project Blue Book investigation into a UFO sighting reported by two 14-year-old witnesses in Tinley Park, Illinois, on August 5, 1965. The witnesses were observing the stars through a telescope shortly after midnight when they noticed an object that appeared suddenly, described as looking like a 'lightning bug.' The object was white, appeared as a star, and moved at an angular rate of 2 to 4 degrees per second. During the 16-17 second observation, the object reportedly changed color to a faint red before disappearing suddenly. The witnesses provided conflicting reports regarding the object's flight path, with one report mentioning a turn to the south and a drawing indicating a turn to the north. The witnesses also provided varying estimates of the object's turn angle, initially stating 45 degrees before revising it to 10 degrees. The investigator, Ernest M. Hegeler, noted that the witnesses appeared nervous and unsure of their observations. Official analysis ruled out satellites due to the direction of flight and meteors due to the duration and lack of a trail. Despite considering the possibility of an airplane with landing lights, the official conclusion remained 'unidentified' as no plausible explanation could be confirmed. The report includes correspondence from Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr., informing the witnesses that their report had been forwarded to Dr. J. Allen Hynek for further review.