Project 10073 Record: UFO Sightings, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 16 August 1966

This document is a collection of records, including a formal report from the Department of the Air Force, regarding a series of UFO sightings in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on 16 August 1966. The sightings, which occurred between 0300 and 0600 hours Zulu, involved numerous witnesses, including Sergeant J. W. Gilbreth Jr. of the Fort Smith Police Department. Witnesses described seeing red, green, and white lights that appeared to move in straight lines, hover, and change colors. Some observers reported the lights resembled aircraft, while others described them as stationary points of light arranged in a square or triangle formation. The Air Force investigation, led by Captain James S. Ector, determined that the sightings were likely attributable to aircraft, specifically noting that the 70th Bomb Wing and 43rd Bomb Wing were conducting refueling operations on the 'Ten Killer' track during the time of the sightings. Additionally, the report suggests that astronomical bodies, such as the stars Antares and Arcturus, may have been mistaken for unusual objects. Despite the large number of witnesses—estimated at approximately 1,500—the Air Force concluded that the events were not indicative of unidentified flying objects, but rather explainable phenomena. The file includes news clippings, photographs, and references to audio tapes documenting the event.