UFO Observation Report — Oil City, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1967

This document contains a collection of records regarding a UFO sighting reported by a college freshman on March 31, 1967, in Oil City, Pennsylvania. The witness, a student at the Venango Campus, reported observing a large, cigar-shaped object at approximately 7:40 P.M. The object was described as gray-silver in color, featuring red square windows and a flashing white light that rotated around the windows. The witness noted that the object was silent, appeared to be at a low altitude, and had no visible wings. The observation lasted for approximately two to three minutes before the object disappeared behind a chain of mountains. The witness explicitly stated that they were a reliable source and not prone to making jokes about serious matters. Following the report, the Air Force's Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base reviewed the case. On May 3, 1967, Colonel James C. Manatt sent a letter to the witness stating that the information provided was insufficient for a scientific evaluation and requested that the witness complete an FTD Form 164. Additionally, the Air Force investigated potential mundane explanations for the sighting. On June 30, 1967, Colonel Manatt sent a follow-up letter to an individual in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, noting that the Federal Aviation Agency had informed the Air Force that this individual participated in aerial advertising in the Pittsburgh area. The Air Force requested information on whether this individual was engaged in aerial advertising on the date and time of the Oil City sighting, as such activity had previously been responsible for numerous UFO reports. The file includes the original correspondence, the completed technical information questionnaire, and the subsequent administrative inquiries made by the Air Force.