Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Project 10073 Record — Gainesville, Florida, 12 Oct 66
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AI-Generated Summary
A civilian reported a round, multi-colored object in Gainesville, Florida, on October 12, 1966. Military investigators concluded the object was likely a lighted weather balloon.
This document details a UFO sighting reported on October 12, 1966, in the vicinity of Gainesville, Florida. The report, filed under Project 10073, describes a single, round, saucer-shaped object that displayed red, blue, and white colors. The witness observed the object for approximately 20 minutes before it disappeared by moving straight up. The report was received third-hand by Major Joe N. Copeland at the AU Command Post, having been relayed from the Jacksonville ARTC Center and the Gainesville Flight Service and Radio. LtCol Ahlstrom, an intelligence officer with the 3825th Command and Control Group, conducted the analysis. He concluded that the object was likely a lighted rawinsonde balloon released by weather stations in Tampa or Miami, citing wind factors as the primary evidence for this determination. The report includes meteorological data from the time of the sighting, noting scattered, broken cirrus clouds, a temperature of 68 degrees, and a dewpoint of 62 degrees.
Object was round saucer shaped. Red, blue, white. Object disappeared straight up.
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Official Assessment
Balloon (Prob JAH)
The investigation officer concluded that the object was likely a lighted rawinsonde balloon released by weather stations in Tampa or Miami, based on wind factors.
Witnesses
Key Persons
- Joe N. CopelandMajor, AU Command Post Duty Officer
- AhlstromLtCol, Intelligence Officer, 3825th Command and Control Group