Project 10073 Record — Arvada, Colorado, 15 April 1966

On April 15, 1966, at 0355Z, a civilian witness named Roger Pearson observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon in Arvada, Colorado. The object was described as a red light moving slowly and steadily to the east. The witness, who used binoculars, observed the object for approximately 10 minutes before it broke up, appearing like fireworks. The incident was reported to the 3415th Air Base Group at Lowry Technical Training Center. Subsequent investigation by local authorities, specifically Arvada Patrolman Daniel Bradley, led to the recovery of the object in a churchyard at W. 68th Ave. and Carr St. The recovered item was identified as a balloon, approximately eight feet across, constructed from plastic material similar to garment bags and mounted on a flat base with wire mesh. The balloon had a flare attached, which had burned out by the time of recovery. The incident was part of a series of sightings reported in the Denver area, particularly in the Golden and Lakewood regions, during that week. The official conclusion reached by the military record was that the object was a balloon.