Project 10073 Record: UFO Sighting, 1 August 1966, Philippines

This document compiles reports and correspondence regarding a UFO sighting on 1 August 1966, involving the crew of a WC-130E aircraft from the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. While en route to a storm reconnaissance mission in the South China Sea, the crew observed multiple unidentified lights in the sky. The witnesses, including the aircraft commander, pilot, navigator, and weather observers, described seeing several lights in stacked formations that appeared to travel in directions opposite to their own aircraft. The objects were described as having an orange/yellow glow, changing to white or light red, and exhibiting behaviors such as climbing, disappearing, and reappearing. The crew attempted to photograph the objects using a Canon 'Canonet' camera, capturing images of the lights and the aircraft's radar scope. The Foreign Technology Division (FTD) requested the original negatives and camera data for evaluation. A subsequent Photo Analysis Report (NR 67-33) concluded that while the photography was genuine in content, the images of 'orange balls' were likely the result of emulsion or processing defects, as they did not appear to be discernible solid objects. The official conclusion remained that there was insufficient data for a definitive identification.