UFO Report — Benton, Arkansas, 24 March 1967

On March 24, 1967, at approximately 0230Z, a UFO sighting was reported in Benton, Arkansas. The witness, identified as a deputy sheriff and radio operator at the County Sheriff's Office, reported observing a single, round object that appeared to be the size of a silver dollar. The object was described as a bright white light with occasional red flashes. According to the report, the object hovered for approximately one minute before moving slowly in a southward direction. The total duration of the observation was three minutes. The witness was alerted to the object by an unidentified person who called the sheriff's office by telephone. Weather conditions at the time were reported as clear with unlimited visibility and high, thin, scattered cirrus clouds. The report was processed by the 825th Strategic Aerospace Division at Little Rock Air Force Base. Mathew F. Lewonowski, a GS-11 Assistant Base Operations Officer, provided the final assessment. He concluded that the object was likely a homemade hot air balloon, noting that such devices—typically constructed from plastic laundry bags with candles suspended below to provide lift—had been launched in the area. The report was submitted in accordance with Air Force Regulation 80-17.