Project 10073 Record and Correspondence — Belleville, Illinois, July 1966

This document contains a Project 10073 record regarding a civilian sighting of two objects in Belleville, Illinois, on July 17, 1966. The observer reported seeing two coneshaped objects in the southwestern sky that remained stationary for approximately 30 minutes. The objects were described as having red, green, and blue lights that appeared bright and dim, with a width of approximately 24 inches and a separation of one mile. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the objects were the stars Spica and Denebola, citing specific azimuth and elevation coordinates for each. The document also includes correspondence from Lt. Colonel George P. Freeman, Jr., dated October 27, 1966, addressed to the observer. In this letter, the Air Force informed the observer that the initial information provided was insufficient to substantiate a valid explanation and requested the completion of FTD Form 164 for further evaluation. Additionally, the letter advised the observer to submit a separate plan regarding 'air boys' to guide airplanes to the National Academy of Sciences, as that office held responsibility for evaluating theoretical proposals and inventions. The file contains multiple pages of blank or partially completed U.S. Air Force technical information questionnaires and related correspondence, indicating a broader administrative process for handling civilian reports of unidentified aerial phenomena during this period.