Project 10073 Record — Sighting in Jeffersonville, Indiana, 3 August 1968

This document contains a series of reports and correspondence regarding a UFO sighting in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on August 3, 1968. The observer, a civilian, reported seeing a bright, high-intensity, ball-shaped light traveling slowly in the sky. The witness, who identified themselves as having tactical reconnaissance pilot training, noted that the object moved in a straight line before breaking apart into pieces that fell toward the ground. The witness explicitly stated there was no noise or explosion associated with the event. The observer provided detailed sketches and descriptions, comparing the object's appearance to a street light or a high-intensity bulb. The Air Force, specifically the Aerial Phenomena Office under Lt. Col. Hector Quintanilla, Jr., investigated the report. Their official conclusion was that the object was a 'garnet bag hot air balloon.' The Air Force explained that such balloons, often constructed from plastic bags and using birthday candles as a heat source, frequently appear as luminescent objects in the sky. The official assessment noted that as the candles burn down, the platform can catch fire, causing the object to appear to disintegrate and fall, which matches the witness's description of the event. The file includes the original questionnaire completed by the witness, correspondence from the Air Force requesting further information, and the final assessment provided to the witness.