Project 10073 Record: Sighting Report - Memphis, Tennessee, 3 November 1966

On November 3, 1966, at approximately 0540Z, a civilian witness in Memphis, Tennessee, reported observing an unidentified aerial object. The witness, described as a reliable stock clerk, observed a dark, star-shaped object that appeared to be 15 feet high and 50 feet long. The object was initially seen hovering above a group of trees and a house, displaying one white and one red light. As it moved away, the witness observed four lights in a diamond configuration, with two white lights on the sides and two red lights fore and aft. The witness reported a 'dull low pitched raspy sound' associated with the object. The observation lasted for three minutes during the first sighting and one minute during a second sighting, after which the object moved toward the southwest. The Air Force investigated the report under Project 10073. Correspondence between the Foreign Technology Division and the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) in Memphis confirmed that there were no records of helicopter operations in the area at the time of the sighting. The Memphis Naval Air Station also reported no helicopter activity. While the Air Force investigators noted that the object's movement and appearance were somewhat comparable to 'flying saucers' and that the departure path suggested a helicopter heading toward the Memphis Metropolitan Airport, they concluded there was no firm basis for determining the cause of the sighting. The report remains officially categorized as 'Aircraft (possible)' due to insufficient data.