Project 10073 Record and Correspondence — Rancho Cordova, California, April 1966

This document archive details a series of UFO sightings reported by Mrs. Jean Miller in Rancho Cordova, California, on April 29 and 30, 1966. Mrs. Miller reported observing a round, flat, yellowish-white object that hovered and moved vertically and horizontally in the early morning hours. She described the object as having a textured surface with diagonal streaks and a distinct whitish-red trail. The sightings lasted for over an hour each morning. The Air Force, through Project Blue Book, initially requested further information via FTD Form 164, which led to significant friction with the witness, who felt the Air Force was ignoring her initial detailed reports and was dismissive of her efforts. The investigation involved coordination between Mather AFB and Nellis AFB. While early correspondence from Major Hector Quintanilla suggested the planet Venus as a possible explanation, later internal notes from July and August 1966 indicate that Base Operations at Mather AFB investigated the reports and concluded they were likely related to fuel testing (specifically the burning of H2) conducted at Jack Ass Flats, Nevada. The archive includes extensive correspondence between Mrs. Miller and Major Quintanilla, reflecting the witness's frustration with the bureaucratic process and her insistence that the phenomena she observed were not hallucinations or simple astronomical events. The file also contains press clippings regarding other UFO reports from the same period, including a meteor sighting in the eastern United States and reports of 'flying saucers' in other regions, providing context for the public climate regarding UAP reports in 1966.