Follow-Up Report on UFO Sighting (29ADiv Msg, 290IN 11007, 10 Nov 66)

This document is a formal follow-up report regarding a UFO sighting that occurred on November 8, 1966, near Saginaw, Minnesota. The primary witness, a recent college graduate, observed a group of bright, multi-colored lights (white, yellow, orange, and blue-white) while driving home on Highway 33 near midnight. The object, estimated to be ten to fifteen feet across, appeared to be nearly touching the ground and remained stationary, though it occasionally seemed to recede before abruptly vanishing. The observation lasted less than five minutes. The report notes that the witness's mother and other local residents had reported similar sightings in the area on previous occasions, always late at night. Personnel from the 29th Air Division Intelligence Office visited the site on November 9, 1966, to conduct interviews and inspect the area. They noted that the terrain consisted of birch and fir forests with low ridges, and that there was snow on the ground at the time of the sighting. The investigation specifically looked for potential mundane explanations, such as reflections from a nearby power line or a porch light, but concluded these were improbable due to the distance, the terrain, and the fact that such sightings were a recent occurrence. The investigator, 2nd Lt. William B. Stoecker, remarked that the witnesses were not 'saucer cultists' and appeared to be of average intelligence. The official conclusion stated that while the object could potentially be categorized as an unusual atmospheric phenomenon similar to ball lightning, there was insufficient data to substantiate this evaluation. The report includes a hand-drawn map of the sighting location, illustrating the proximity of the observer's car to the object and the surrounding landscape.