Project 10073 Record: Sighting Report - Austin, Texas, 1967

This document details a UFO sighting report filed under Project 10073, concerning an incident that occurred on May 1, 1967, near Austin, Texas. The witness, a retired Air Force B-52 aircraft gunner, observed a single object while searching for satellites. The witness described the object as having a capsule shape, appearing larger than a normal star, and exhibiting a spectrum of colors that varied in brightness. The object was observed through a 20-60X telescope for a duration of 40 minutes to one hour. The witness noted that the object appeared to move slightly from north to south before becoming stationary and eventually being obscured by clouds. The sighting occurred at approximately 0130Z, with the object positioned at 30 degrees elevation and 270 degrees azimuth. Major Richard E. McClaine of the 75th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing conducted a preliminary investigation. The official conclusion reached by the military authorities was that the object was likely the planet Venus, which was visible in the western sky at that time. The report suggests that the observed movement and variations in brightness were likely optical effects caused by the presence of cloud cover.