Project 10073 Record — Monroe, New York, 20 Dec 66

On December 20, 1966, at 0005 Zulu time, a civilian observer in Monroe, New York, reported a sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The observer, a 44-year-old housewife, was alerted to the object by her son, who had been watching Christmas decorations in the neighborhood. The object was described as a blue-white light that appeared low on the horizon and traveled in a northerly direction from Monroe toward Chester, near a major highway, before disappearing behind a hill. The observation lasted approximately seven minutes. The weather conditions at the time were reported as clear and dark, with a strong temperature inversion noted at 4,000 feet. Captain William J. Archibald of the United States Air Force conducted an investigation, which included a ten-minute interview with the witness. Captain Archibald concluded that the witness could provide no further information and that there was insufficient evidence to suggest the phenomenon was unnatural. He hypothesized that the light was likely a reflection from cars on a nearby highway, made visible by the strong temperature inversion present that night. Consequently, the investigation was closed with no further action recommended.