UFO Observation Report — Iowa City, Iowa, 14 December 1968

This document contains the official U.S. Air Force record of a UFO sighting reported by a 12-year-old student in Iowa City, Iowa, on December 14, 1968. The witness, a student at Central Junior High, reported observing a star-like, bright white light moving across the sky for approximately 10 minutes before it disappeared over the horizon. The witness noted that the object made no sound and moved in a straight line. The report includes multiple iterations of standard Air Force questionnaires (AF Form 117 and FTD Form 164), where the witness provided details about the observation, including the use of binoculars and the fact that they were outdoors at the time. The witness also included a hand-drawn sketch of the object's path and its appearance relative to the horizon. Correspondence from the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, signed by Lt. Colonel Hector Quintanilla, Jr., indicates that the initial report was insufficient for a scientific investigation, prompting the Air Force to request the completion of the formal AF Form 117. The final conclusion reached by the Air Force was that the phenomenon was 'Probable (SATELLITE),' noting that the description provided by the witness was consistent with that of a satellite. The file also contains a personal letter from the witness to the Air Force, inquiring about whether they should send the questionnaire to the police or the Air Force directly.