Project 10073 Record: UFO Observation, 17 January 1969, Bradenton, Florida

This document contains the Project 10073 record regarding a UFO sighting reported by a 15-year-old student in Bradenton, Florida, on January 17, 1969. The witness, who identified himself as an amateur astronomer, reported observing three objects moving from south to north at approximately 11:30 p.m. According to the witness, a large, disc-shaped object hovered 50-100 feet above a wooded area near his home. He described the object as turning orange-red and ejecting two smaller, oval-shaped objects. These smaller objects circled the larger one before returning to it. The witness noted that the objects made a faint humming sound similar to a swarm of bees and that the main object eventually shot straight up at a 90-degree angle and disappeared. The witness provided detailed sketches and completed an AF Form 117 questionnaire. The Air Force, specifically the Aerial Phenomena Office under Lt. Colonel Hector Quintanilla, Jr., evaluated the report and concluded it was an 'UNRELIABLE REPORT.' The official comments noted skepticism regarding the witness's claim that he observed the phenomenon for 20 minutes in a residential area without attempting to alert other witnesses, and that such a low-altitude event was reported by only one person.