Project 10073 Record — Sighting Report, Chicago, Illinois, 25 April 1966

On 25 April 1966, at 0945Z, a civilian observer in Chicago, Illinois, reported a sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The observer, a 42-year-old housewife, was at her home near Midway Airport when she noticed a round, very bright white object, which she compared to a 100-watt bulb. The object was observed for approximately 15 minutes, moving in a straight southerly course before disappearing to the southwest. The observer, who was on her porch, noted that the object appeared to have a yellowish tinge. She was accompanied by her husband and two sons, aged 19 and 22, who also witnessed the event. The observer reported that she heard no sound associated with the object, though she noted that an air raid siren had sounded earlier that morning. She also mentioned that she had recently purchased an expensive camera but had no film left to document the sighting. The report was investigated by the 928th Troop Carrier Group at O'Hare International Airport and subsequently reviewed by Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr., Chief of Project Blue Book. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the object was the Echo II satellite, which was confirmed to be passing over the Chicago area at the time of the sighting, specifically at approximately 100 degrees longitude and 50 degrees latitude. The observer was notified by letter on 2 May 1966 that the information provided in her initial report was insufficient for evaluation, and she was requested to complete an FTD Form 164, which she subsequently did.