Project 10073 Record — Winona, Mississippi, 26 October 1966

This document contains a Project Blue Book sighting report regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed in Winona, Mississippi, on 26 October 1966. The witness, a former employee of the Radio Engineering Department at Brookley AFB, reported observing a stationary object in the eastern sky for four hours. The witness described the object as changing colors—flashing bright red, blue, and yellow—and noted that it moved slowly upward or westward. The witness also reported a separate sighting of three objects in a reversed V formation occurring two nights prior, and another sighting in March 1966. The witness, who identified as a Christian and a firm believer in intelligent control of these objects, expressed a belief in their extraterrestrial origin. The official Air Force conclusion for the 26 October sighting was that the object was the star Capella. The investigating officer, Major Hector Quintanilla, Jr., explained that atmospheric refraction of the star's light, particularly when low on the horizon, can cause the observed color changes and apparent motion. The file includes correspondence from the Air Force to the witness requesting further information via FTD Form 164, as well as the completed questionnaire and sketches provided by the witness.