Incident Report — Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, 18 June 1966

This document contains a series of reports and correspondence regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon sighting that occurred on 18 June 1966 near Mount Mitchell, North Carolina. The primary witness, a scout from Troop 3 of Charlotte, reported that while on a back-packing trip, he and his group observed seven objects. According to the witness, the objects initially appeared as three red pulsating lights in a triangular formation that hovered above a trail. The witness described the objects as moving from side to side and emitting a quiet humming sound. Later, the objects were joined by six others, which the witness claimed had arrived from adjacent mountains. The objects reportedly gathered together, formed a straight line, and departed behind a mountain. The witness also reported finding physical evidence at the site, specifically three holes in the ground arranged in an equilateral triangle, along with crushed undergrowth and broken tree branches. The U.S. Air Force, through the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, reviewed the initial report. Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr., Chief of Project Blue Book, sent multiple letters to the witness throughout the summer of 1966, stating that the information provided was insufficient for a formal evaluation and requesting that the witness complete an FTD Form 164. The file includes the original questionnaire, correspondence, and internal notes regarding the case, which was ultimately categorized as having insufficient data for evaluation.