Project 10073 Record — Fort Wayne, Indiana, 8 September 1966

On September 8, 1966, at 1450Z, a civilian observer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, reported a sighting of an unidentified aerial object. The witness, a deputy clerk at the U.S. District Court, described the object as a circular, silvery-white, and very bright craft that appeared slightly larger than a grapefruit held at arm's length. The object was initially observed traveling from the northeast to the southwest in a descending attitude. It subsequently turned due west, maintained that heading momentarily, and then altered its course back to the northeast, where it ascended and faded from view. The observation lasted approximately 45 seconds under clear, bright conditions. The Air Force investigation, conducted under Project Blue Book, concluded that the description was consistent with an aircraft. The report notes that the observer was not technically qualified to provide precise data such as altitude, speed, or rate of descent. The final assessment suggested that an aircraft operating beyond the range of hearing, reflecting sunlight, and performing a radio range maneuver could account for the observed flight path, shape, and color. The Air Force requested that the witness complete a formal FTD Form 164 to provide further details, though the initial report was deemed insufficient for a comprehensive evaluation.