Project 10073 Record — Reeder, North Dakota, 21 February 1967

On February 21, 1967, a civilian farmer and his wife, residing near Reeder, North Dakota, observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness reported seeing a round, light-like object, approximately the size of a grapefruit held at arm's length, which changed colors from red to green to off-white. The object appeared in the west, moved in a northwest direction, and was observed for approximately 20 minutes before disappearing over the horizon. The witness noted that the object seemed to rotate and occasionally bobbed up and down. The sighting occurred on a clear, cool evening. The witness initially reported the event to the Hettinger County Sheriff's Office in Mott, North Dakota. Following the report, the witness was interviewed by Major Chester A. Shaw, Jr. of the 810th Strategic Aerospace Division, who noted that the witness appeared to be of sound mind and body. The Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base subsequently evaluated the report. The official conclusion reached by the observer and supported by the Air Force was that the object was the planet Venus, which was setting at an azimuth of 267 degrees at approximately 1945L. The witness later confirmed in correspondence that he concluded the sighting was Venus, noting that he had seen the same phenomenon several times since.