Incident Report — Aberdeen, South Dakota, 4 December 1965

This document is an official Department of the Air Force incoming message, dated December 5, 1965, regarding a UFO sighting reported in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on December 4, 1965. The report details an observation made by two civilians, including a member of the Aberdeen Police Department, who described three round, brilliant objects in the southeastern sky. The witnesses reported that the objects changed colors—white, red, blue, and green—in a manner described as resembling a bursting neon sign. One of the objects was observed moving slowly downward, while the other two remained stationary. The observation lasted approximately 30 minutes. Upon receiving the report, the 319th Bomb Wing Command Post at Grand Forks AFB initiated an immediate investigation. This included checking with the Duluth ADC SAGE Sector and the Minneapolis Center, both of which reported no unusual flight activity in the area. Furthermore, the weather observer at the Aberdeen Municipal Airport, who was on duty at the time of the sighting, reported seeing nothing unusual and confirmed that no weather balloons had been released. A consultation with the weather forecaster at Grand Forks AFB ruled out northern lights or other meteorological phenomena. The official conclusion provided in the report suggests that the witnesses likely observed a bright, star-filled sky, noting that the objects remained visible while the report was being made.