PROJECT 10073 RECORD - 31 March 66

On March 31, 1966, multiple reports of an unidentified aerial phenomenon were received by Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama. The reports originated from calls made to local radio station WHBB, which then contacted Major Chapman at the base. The first report came from an unidentified young woman who described a very small, very high, pale orange object that appeared short, round, and blunt, moving in a straight line for approximately ten minutes. Shortly thereafter, two additional reports were received: one from a male adult in downtown Selma who reported an 'orange blob' and another from a young man who reported an 'orange glow' high in the sky. Major Chapman, the investigating officer, conducted an analysis of the events. He noted that at approximately 1811 CST, he and another officer were on the flight line at Craig AFB and observed a B-52 aircraft flying east of the base. The aircraft was pulling a short contrail, and both the aircraft and the contrail were observed to be glowing orange in color. Major Chapman concluded that this B-52 and its contrail were the source of the sightings reported by the witnesses. The document notes that radio station WHBB possessed a tape recording of the initial conversation regarding the sightings.