Project 10073 Record - Fort Carson, Colorado, 18 April 1967

On April 18, 1967, at 0345Z, an unidentified aerial phenomenon was observed near the Officers Club at Fort Carson, Colorado. The witness, who was in a vehicle with their spouse, reported seeing a yellow light that appeared to have no recognizable features. The object was described as being brighter than a star, swaying and rocking from side to side, and climbing while moving away toward the east. The observation lasted for approximately ten minutes. The witness noted that the object was seen through the front windshield of their vehicle. The Air Force investigation, documented in a staff message, concluded that the object was a balloon illuminated by searchlights. Major Edward L. Stricker, the Assistant Base Operations Officer at Peterson Field, confirmed that Fort Carson was conducting searchlight illumination exercises at the time of the sighting and suggested the object was a helium balloon caught in the searchlight beams during crew training.