Project 10073 Record — UFO Observation, 7 September 1968

This document contains a collection of correspondence and sighting reports regarding an unidentified aerial phenomenon observed on the night of September 7, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York. The primary witness, an electrical engineer with a background in meteorology and upper atmosphere research, reported observing a bright, yellow-orange object in the sky. The witness initially described the object as appearing like a bright star, which then became larger and rectangular in shape. The object reportedly separated into three or four parallel yellow lines, with portions falling toward the ground and extinguishing before impact. The witness noted that the object appeared self-luminous and compared its appearance to a burning box or a bright candle flame. The observation lasted approximately two to three minutes. The witness reported the sighting to the U.S. Air Force on September 8, 1968. In response, Major James H. Aikman of the Office of Information provided the witness with official questionnaires to document the event. Following the submission of these reports, Lt. Col. Hector Quintanilla, Jr., Chief of the Aerial Phenomena Office, issued a formal assessment on October 2, 1968. The Air Force concluded that the description provided by the witness was consistent with other reports of plastic garment bag hot air balloons, effectively categorizing the sighting as a probable hot air balloon.