Project 10073 Record — Kennett, Missouri, 17 August 1966

This document is a collection of teletype reports and a Project 10073 record concerning a UFO sighting in Kennett, Missouri, on 17 August 1966. A civilian witness, identified as a 17-year-old high school student, reported observing two distinct colored lights at approximately five-minute intervals. The witness described the lights as changing colors—from red to green, brilliant white, and yellow—and noted that the objects moved toward the North, occasionally stopping or jumping to the left and right. The witness, who was walking home at the time, was deemed reliable by investigators. The report notes that the witness's brother also observed the second light but was not available for interview. The investigation into the incident, conducted by the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) and the 97th Bombardment Wing at Blytheville AFB, concluded that the objects were likely KC-135 aircraft. At the time of the sighting, the 97th Bombardment Wing was conducting an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORIT), which involved multiple waves of bombers and supporting tankers taking off from Blytheville AFB. The flight paths for these aircraft were expected to pass near the witness's location. Investigators determined that the KC-135 aircraft are equipped with fuselage-mounted illumination lights used to facilitate wing observation at night. A test conducted by the preparing officer, where a KC-135 was observed during a low pass in clear weather, confirmed that the appearance of these lights was very similar to the description provided by the witness. Consequently, the official conclusion for the incident was categorized as 'AIRCRAFT'.