UFO Report — Osceola, Arkansas, 10 March 1967

On March 10, 1967, at approximately 110100Z, a civilian observer located one mile north of Osceola, Arkansas, reported a UFO sighting. The observer, identified as a teletype and switchboard operator, described a bright white light that initially appeared stationary before moving southward. The witness compared the object to a white light on a pole about one mile away and noted it was brighter than the planet Venus. The observation lasted for approximately ten minutes. The Air Force conducted an investigation into the incident, noting that the witness appeared sincere but was awed by the event and expressed concern about being embarrassed by reporting the sighting. The investigation identified that two aircraft from the 97th Bombardment Wing at Blytheville AFB were in the vicinity at the time of the sighting. A B-52G piloted by Lt. Col. William F. Lane and a KC-135 piloted by Major D. A. Bornkessel both departed the area to the south. The Air Force concluded that the most logical explanation for the sighting was the KC-135 aircraft. The report notes that the KC-135 is equipped with two powerful floodlights used to illuminate the wings, which can appear as a round, brilliant white light when observed from the ground. This was the third time a KC-135 had been suspected of causing a UFO report. The report recommends that any future contact with the witness be handled discreetly due to her fear of embarrassment.