PROJECT 10073 RECORD - Sighting Report 26 April 1967, Tempe, Arizona

This document is a Department of the Air Force staff message regarding a UFO sighting reported on April 26, 1967, in Tempe, Arizona. The witness, a 23-year-old unemployed male, observed a round, bright, and glowing orange object while looking out of his window. The object was described as being approximately the size of a golf ball when held at arm's length. It remained suspended in the sky at an angle of elevation of approximately 10 degrees, maintaining its elevation while slowly moving from the northeast to the northwest. The witness reported that the object instantaneously split into two pieces and remained visible for three to five minutes before it burned and disappeared. The report includes detailed weather conditions at the time, noting clear skies, no wind, and a full moon. The investigating officer concluded that the object was a hot air balloon, noting that this type of activity had been observed elsewhere in the United States. The explanation provided suggests that these balloons are constructed by children using plastic clothes bags and a candle to provide heated air for ascent. The report was directed to Dr. Condon at the University of Colorado Boulder.