Project 10073 Record — Charlestown, Indiana, September 1968

This document contains a Project Blue Book record regarding a series of UFO sightings reported by a civilian in Charlestown, Indiana, in September 1968. The witness, an undergraduate student at Indiana University, reported observing lights in the sky over the course of two summers, specifically noting incidents on September 6 and 7, 1968. The witness described the objects as point light sources that were brighter than stars and exhibited erratic, zig-zag, and 'staircase' movement patterns. The witness emphasized that these lights did not behave like airplanes or helicopters, noting the absence of engine noise and the objects' ability to remain stationary or move in non-linear paths. The witness expressed concern regarding the proximity of these sightings to sensitive installations, including the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, the Public Service Company of Indiana electric generating plant, and the Jefferson Proving Grounds. The Air Force, through Lt. Colonel Hector Quintanilla, Jr., responded to the report by stating that the information provided was insufficient for a scientific investigation and requested that the witness complete an AF Form 117 for further documentation. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the data was insufficient for evaluation, noting that the objects did not meet the definition of a UFO as specified in AFR 80-17 and could potentially be attributed to conventional stimuli such as aircraft, satellites, or celestial bodies.