Project 10073 Record: Sighting near Wilmer, Alabama, 19 April 1967

On April 19, 1967, at approximately 20/0315Z, a sighting of an unidentified aerial phenomenon occurred near Wilmer, Alabama. Two observers, identified as reliable, witnessed an object while driving home. The object was described as cone-shaped with the bottom cut off, appearing similar to a light bulb in a vertical position with the large end down. It was estimated to be 25 feet high, 20 feet wide at the bottom, and 10 feet wide at the top. The object emitted a very bright yellow-orange incandescent light with a darker reddish-orange streak standing vertically in the center. It moved slowly in a southerly direction at an altitude of approximately 500 feet above the road before disappearing in place. The observers noted no sound, though flare-like lighting was observed emanating from the bottom of the object just prior to its disappearance. A third witness, Mrs. Robison, observed the object from her home nearby. All witnesses were familiar with aircraft traffic due to their proximity to the Mobile Municipal Airport, and they noted that animals in a nearby pasture appeared disturbed during the sighting. A subsequent local area check for balloon launches was conducted, and the official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the object was a hot air balloon.