Final Report of Investigation: UFO Sighting, Normal, Illinois, 22 March 1966

This document is a formal investigation report conducted by Captain Edward J. Orenic of the 3345th Air Base Group regarding a series of UFO sightings in Normal, Illinois, on the night of March 22, 1966. Multiple civilian witnesses, including teenagers and adults, reported observing an oblong, football-shaped object with blinking red, green, white, and blue lights. Witnesses described the object as hovering, diving, and climbing at low altitudes without making any sound. One witness, Steve Simpson, claimed the object had antennas and hovered directly over them. The investigation included interviews with witnesses, local police, and tower operators at the Bloomington-Normal airport. Captain Orenic concluded that the sightings were misidentifications of an Ozark Airlines DC-3 aircraft. The aircraft was 25 minutes behind schedule and performed a low-altitude approach pattern over the city due to weather conditions, which included overcast skies and ragged ceilings. The investigator noted that the standard lighting configuration of the DC-3 matched the descriptions provided by the witnesses. Furthermore, the report highlights that witness testimony became increasingly embellished and inconsistent as time passed, with the investigator characterizing the later accounts as 'confused fantasy.' The report includes maps, diagrams comparing the DC-3 lighting to the reported object, and a copy of a local newspaper article covering the event. The final recommendation was to inform the civilian population on proper reporting procedures to reduce the costs associated with investigating such misidentifications.