Project 10073 Record: UFO Observation, Gower, Missouri, 9 February 1968

This document compiles the investigation records regarding a UFO sighting reported by a civilian in Gower, Missouri, on February 9, 1968. The witness, a 57-year-old man, reported being awakened at approximately 4:30 AM by his cows bawling. Upon looking out his window, he observed a large, circular craft hovering 20 to 25 feet above the ground, approximately 300 to 350 feet away. He described the object as having concave sides with a bright yellow-green light and seven portholes. The craft produced a pulsating sound, which he compared to a wire being whirled at high speed. The object eventually moved rapidly toward the southwest. The witness reported experiencing physical symptoms, including hot flashes and perspiration, following the event. The Air Force's Aerial Phenomena Office, led by Major Hector Quintanilla, conducted an extensive inquiry, contacting local police departments, the Federal Aviation Administration, and nearby military installations, including Marshall Army Airfield and Sherman Army Airfield, to determine if any helicopter operations could explain the sighting. All contacted agencies reported no such activity. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, acting as a consultant, interviewed the witness and concluded that the witness was a stable, matter-of-fact individual. Hynek noted that while the possibility of hallucination existed, there was no a priori reason to accept it, and he recommended the case be evaluated as unidentified.