Project 10073 Record — Sighting Report, Collinsville, Illinois, 24 November 1968

On 24 November 1968, at approximately 1905Z, a civilian witness named Marie Baublitz observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon in Collinsville, Illinois. The witness, who was outdoors in a residential section of the city, described the object as a solid, bright, star-like ball, similar to a golf ball in appearance. The object was observed for approximately five minutes, moving from north to south at an estimated altitude of 2,000 feet and an estimated speed of 400-500 mph. The witness noted that the object was much brighter than a standard star. The sighting was reported to Scott Air Force Base, and the documentation was subsequently forwarded to the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for further action. The official conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the phenomenon was a 'Probable SATELLITE,' noting that the description provided by the witness was consistent with satellite observations. Weather data for the time of the sighting indicated clear conditions with 20 miles of visibility and no significant cloud cover or storm activity.