Project 10073 Record — Sighting in Tempe, Arizona, 7 September 1965

On 7 September 1965, a civilian witness in Tempe, Arizona, reported observing six oval-shaped, whitish-yellow objects. The witness, a liquor store clerk, described the objects as having 'little bitty windows' emitting a pinkish light and producing a high-pitched hum that caused her physical discomfort, specifically a headache and a burning sensation in her ears. The observation lasted approximately four minutes. According to the report, four of the objects disappeared below the crest of the Superstition Mountains, while two turned southeast, appearing to head toward Tucson. The witness claimed to have hypersensitive hearing, allowing her to detect the objects' high-frequency sounds before seeing them, and noted that her sister also possessed this ability. The Air Force investigation, conducted by the Foreign Technology Division, concluded that the sighting likely involved aircraft within an active VFR corridor. The report notes that the witness has a history of observing similar objects in the same area over the previous four years. Military authorities confirmed that no aircraft from Williams, Luke, or Davis-Monthan Air Force Bases were airborne in the area at the time. Phoenix Approach Control and the Albuquerque Center reported no radar contacts. The final assessment suggests that the sighting could have been two aircraft—one heading east and one heading west—and that the witness's interpretation was influenced by the difficulty of judging movement and depth at night.