Project 10073 Record — Riverton, Illinois, 1 April 1966

On 1 April 1966, at 0550Z, a civilian witness named Robert E. Robertson observed an unidentified aerial object near Riverton, Illinois. The witness, who was noted for his scientific background and familiarity with aircraft and weather balloons, reported seeing a bright red light moving southeast. The object reportedly stopped in mid-air, reversed its direction, and proceeded to the northwest before disappearing. The observation lasted approximately 10 minutes. The investigating officer, Captain Edward J. Crenic, interviewed the witness and confirmed the details regarding the light's appearance, lack of sound, and flight path. Captain Crenic also contacted the Taylorville Airport and confirmed that there are several airports in the vicinity and that student pilots frequently conduct flights in light aircraft over the area. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the object was a light aircraft. The absence of sound was explained by strong surface winds at the 1000-foot level, which would have carried the sound away from the observer. Given the witness's reliability and the prevalence of light aircraft in the region, the Air Force determined that no further investigation was warranted.