UFO Observation Report — Memphis, Tennessee, 21 November 1968

On November 21, 1968, a witness at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, reported observing an unidentified aerial phenomenon. The witness, identified as a Hall Counselor at the university, described a star-like light in the western sky that exhibited changing colors—red, blue, white, and green—and moved in a manner described as 'like a leaf floating on air currents.' The observation lasted at least 25 minutes, during which time the witness noted that the object appeared to drop from an initial altitude of 1000 and later began to rise slightly. By 10:40 PM local time, the witness reported that approximately 100 people, including students and faculty, were observing the light. The witness attempted to document the object using photographic filters, noting that a blue filter cut the intensity of the red light, while a yellow filter diminished the green light. The witness initially contacted Millington Naval Air Station, who directed them to the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Air Force subsequently evaluated the report and concluded that the object was likely the star Altair, citing azimuth and elevation calculations for the time of the sighting. On January 6, 1969, Lt. Colonel Hector Quintanilla Jr. of the Aerospace Technologies Division informed the witness that the information provided was insufficient for a scientific investigation and requested the completion of an AF Form 117.