Investigation of April 9, 1967 - Hazelcrest, Illinois

This report details an investigation conducted by William T. Powers of the Dearborn Observatory into a series of UFO sightings reported by a family in Hazelcrest, Illinois, between October 1966 and April 1967. The investigation was initiated following multiple calls to Major Hector Quintanilla at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The primary witness, a woman whose name is redacted, claimed to have been observing numerous UFOs and felt it was the Air Force's duty to investigate. During a personal visit on April 9, 1967, Powers observed the sky with the family and identified several objects as Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and various stars, noting that the witnesses were unfamiliar with basic astronomical movements. The report highlights that the witnesses' interest was significantly influenced by an oval metallic object seen in October 1966 and the subsequent use of a Ouija board, which the family believed was communicating with them. The investigator concluded that most of the reported sightings were misidentifications of stars, planets, aircraft, and plastic-bag balloons launched from a nearby forest preserve. Powers noted that the witnesses were honest and sincere, but were suffering from significant stress due to their experiences, and he expressed relief that they were able to understand the natural origins of the phenomena. The report also mentions a photograph taken by the witness, which was being analyzed at the time of writing.