Project 10070 Record — Sacramento, California, 21 Nov 1966

On November 21, 1966, at approximately 2200 hours, two elderly residents of Sacramento, California, observed an unidentified aerial object while looking out the window of their home on 3d Avenue. The witnesses, an 81-year-old retired man and an 80-year-old housewife, reported that the object initially appeared round before changing to a heart shape. They described the object as bright red and sparkling, approximately 15 feet in diameter, and moving very slowly toward the west. The object was observed for 15 to 20 minutes before the witnesses contacted authorities, and for an additional 5 to 10 minutes during the call. The witnesses noted that the object would brighten, then appear to turn and become weak, before returning to a bright state. They reported no sound, no exhaust, and no unusual features. The incident was reported to Dispatcher John L. Fox at the Operations Branch of McClellan Air Force Base. An investigation by the Air Force determined that there were no meteorological phenomena in the area that would account for the sighting. Base operations confirmed that there were three aircraft movements in the area around the time of the sighting—a DC-6 and two C-121s—but the control tower failed to see the object. Local law enforcement agencies reported no other sightings, and it was noted that one of the observers, identified as Mr. Hack, was known to the police for calling them on various matters. Ultimately, the Air Force concluded that there was insufficient data to evaluate the sighting further.