Project 10073 Record — New Orleans, Louisiana, 23 September 1965

This document is a Project 10073 record concerning a UFO sighting reported in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 23 September 1965. The report details a 16-minute observation of a single, stationary, oblong object described as having a 'star-like' color and a 'bright and gaseous' appearance. The witness reported that the object remained in one place and exhibited no unusual features or trails. The official conclusion reached by the investigating agency was that the sighting was an astronomical phenomenon, specifically suggesting that the azimuth favored Jupiter refraction and the elevation favored the star Capella. The report includes a critical assessment of the witness, who was deemed unreliable. The investigating officer, 2nd Lt. David H. Mercher, noted that the witness was known for his tendency to 'see and find' the extraordinary and suggested that the entire story was likely fictitious. The document also notes that efforts to contact the pilot involved in the report were unsuccessful, and the information provided was considered second-hand and questionable. The report was processed under Air Force Regulation 200-2 and was eventually declassified in January 1968.