Project 10073 Record — Sighting in San Pablo, California, 7 August 1965

This document details the investigation of a UFO sighting reported on 7 August 1965 by a civilian in San Pablo, California. The witness, while driving between San Pablo and Oakland, observed a square, light-colored object against the blue sky for approximately 20 minutes. The witness described the object as having a tail larger than an airplane and noted that it moved slowly at first before moving away very fast. The witness submitted an 8mm movie film of the event to the Air Force for analysis. The film was initially received by Hamilton Air Force Base and subsequently forwarded to the Air Force (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for expert evaluation. The Photo Analysis Division (TDDPA) and the Photo Processing Division (TDDPP) conducted a thorough examination of the film. Their analysis concluded that the film was a double exposure. Specifically, the images that the witness believed to be a UFO were identified as being part of a larger image showing the top half of a man in a suit coat, with light-toned areas corresponding to a shirt and collar. The report notes that while the double exposure was most evident in the section of the film showing the sky, it was likely present throughout a major portion of the footage. The investigators determined that the phenomenon was a double exposure rather than a reflection, citing the lack of distortion and the fact that the image was not reversed. Consequently, the official conclusion was that the film failed to reveal any discernible image that could be classified as a UFO. The film was returned to the witness following the completion of the analysis.