Initial Report of Investigation of UFO — Portsmouth, Virginia, 15 August 1965

This document is an official Air Force investigation report regarding a UFO sighting in Portsmouth, Virginia, on 15 August 1965. The witness, a Journalist Third Class in the U.S. Coast Guard, reported observing a dull silver or gray, cigar-shaped object, estimated to be 50 to 80 feet long and 8 feet thick. The witness claimed the object appeared in the northern sky, flew rapidly to a TV tower where it hovered for 15 to 20 seconds, and then zoomed away to the south. The total duration of the sighting was estimated at 30 to 40 seconds. The investigating officer, First Lieutenant Rober R. Dockum, noted that the witness was considered 'doubtful' and appeared to be attempting to exploit the sighting for personal publicity, having contacted multiple news outlets. The report concludes that the most likely explanation for the sighting was a helicopter operating in the area, which is noted for dense air traffic and frequent helicopter activity. No physical evidence was found, and the witness's credibility was explicitly questioned by the military investigators.