Project 10073 Record: Sighting Reports from Bradenton, Florida (May and June 1968)

This document contains a collection of records regarding two UFO sightings reported by a civilian in Bradenton, Florida, occurring on 23 May 1968 and 17 June 1968. The witness provided detailed accounts, including hand-drawn diagrams, describing objects that appeared to move along the horizon rather than falling like meteors. The witness noted that the 17 June object was white with a slight yellow tint, appeared to be the size of a matchhead at arm's length, and emitted a sound like a jet taking off. The witness also reported that three smaller objects separated from the main object during the observation. The Air Force, specifically the Aerial Phenomena Office, responded to the witness on 1 August 1968. Lt. Col. Quintanilla informed the witness that because the reports were over thirty days old, they were difficult to evaluate. However, the official conclusion suggested the sightings were likely related to satellite debris decay, specifically citing four potential candidates: Explorer 20 debris, OPS #5138 payload, OV3-6 debris, and Cosmos 189 debris. The file includes the original correspondence, internal notes from the Air Force, and the witness's detailed descriptions of the events.