PROJECT 10073 RECORD 1. ~AT~ -..TIME GROUP 2. San T.noi Q Obispo, California ~ "l. nesses, 10. CONCLUSION Possible (AIRCRAFT~ 4. NUMBER OF OBJECTS s. LENGTH OF 03SERVATION 11. BRiEF SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 6. TYPE OF O~;):RVATION Gnn.md-Viz-..:a.J. (BX) 9. PHYSl C.AL EY!~ENCE Obse:"Vers noted round, l.hitisn lights that appeared to have a s:::c.11 red light at the bottom. Objects were in forrm.tion; onE be~1ir.:i the other, durinz entire s4;htins. No tail, trail, or exna.ust was observed. Objects moved from rit1lt to left in s:,:--e:.i~t line and then turned sliehtly to the left just b ':'ori d!. sc.?p~aring. Due to app3.rent foe oonditi on., investigating off~cer beieives Observers saw an aircraft with its lights sh ir~ th rou[!Jl the fog. . . FTD S Ep ~ 0-32; (TD = ) Prev!ou ed,tJone of thla form m1 be u .. d. Observer number 2 -20 degrees elevation and east northeast. (3) Observers 1 and 2 -object seemed to hang s uspended with no (4) Observers 1 and 2 -object disappeared with oncoming darkness. (5) Observer number 1 -30 minutes Observer number 2 -20 minutes. c. Manner of observation: (1) Observers 1 and 2 -ground, visual. (2) Observer number 1 -Japanese manufactured binoculars, believed to be 12 power. Observer number 2-American manufactured binouclars, 35x7. (3) Not applicable. d. Time and date of sighting: (1) Observer nu.mber 1 -29 August 1966, O}JOZ. Observer number 2 -29 August 1966, 02452. e. Location of observers: (1) Observer number 1 -120 38 W longitude, 35 27 N latitude, 13 nautical miles from the San Luis Obispo VORTAC on the 023 degree radial. Observer number 2-120 23 W longitude, 35 22' N latitude, 20 nautical miles from the San Luis Obispo VORTAC on the o60 degree radial. f. Identifying information on observers: Observer number 1 -Mr. age 36 over City, California; occupa ay Engineer; high school education and 3 years college. d spent 4 years in the Navy, 2! years of which was spent on an aircraft carrier, here he came into daily contact with aircraft. It is the opinion of the preparing officer that this person is completely reliable. Jie had no pet theories on UFOs or professed to be any type of an authority on the subject. He noticed an unfamiliar object in the sky and thought it his duty to report it to the proper authorities and did so. number 2 -Mr ornia; occupation Highway Eneineer; high school education. tated that he was not very familiar with aircraft and did not think that he could identify one type from another. However, he did not believe the unidentified object he sighted to be an airplane but rather a weather balloon. He did not notify a11y coverntncnt or s t ate official as he believed the unidentified object to be a weather balloon. Both observers are employed together, and during the course of normal conversation, the UFO was discus s ed. Mr ( obDerver number 1) stated during the interview that he had a friend who also saw the unidentified object and asked the investigating officer if he would be interest ed in ta to him. That is how the investigating officer came to interview g. Weather and winds -Aloft conditions at time and place of sighting: (1) Observer number 1 and 2 -Clear, dark and no clouds (6) Not applicable. (7) Not applicable. h. Other unusual conditions or activities: (1) Local newspapers carried a story on the reporting of an unidentified flying object by numerous people in the San Diego - Los Angeles area on the 27 and 28 of August. The newspaper stated that the object was weather balloon released from Holloman AFB, New Mexico. i. Not applicable. j . Los Angeles Center stated ttat a large (450ft dia. ) experimental balloon Project No. H- 66-74 was launched from Holloman AFB, New Mexico on 26 August at 07482. Holloman lost control of the balloon and i t drifted to Needles, California, where the SAGE Unit at Phoenix tracked it to Palmdale. It then, went into an orbit in the vicinity of Taft, California. The balloon was tracked in the above area for the 27 and 28 August, when it was lost in the area of a thunderstorm. k . Cy L. Asta, 1st Lieutenant, USAF, FV3109301, OIC, Flight Training, 4392d Aerospace Support Group, SAC, Vandenberg AFB, California 93437. Analysis by preparing offic er: Due to the existanc e of a large experimental balloon in the vicinity of the sighted UFO and the description given by the two observers which closely resembled that of the balloon, it i s the opinion of the preparing officer that the object sighted was the large experimental balloon that was launched from Holloman AFB, New Mexico on the 26 of August Not applicable. FOR THE COMMANDER ROBERT M. SINSABAUGH Lt Colonel, USAF Director of Operations Cl'tl)lt '\ IIELtliiA aaMAIIC'It I Wli..I.JS'I'ml \ r-I -~ lr. Ci.OilD ~ \ I "ll\-owc -----I LANXItrjf I - , I .SIOOlt Cl'T'f ., ..) WlNSLOwll .....I.e AIAUQ-..... -1 a MAJULLO ~oP a,aOIIIA em ~OIIT S)Gft L PASO '\ S11J'f-V$J'Oil't,) .... T~SI)lf I JU. f, JUT WUTIIEI IUIEAII rtLOT JAUOOI + WEATIIEI IIIIEAII PILOT IALLOOI AIO All FOICE 'ILOT IALLOOI All FOICE lAW II A FB All roiCE lASE @ IAVr "LOT IALLOOI + IAVJ IA'WII -<> WI-AI/IIY COO'' IAWII DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS 43920 AEROSPACE SUPPORT r.ROUP (SAC) VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, 93437 ATTN OF: BOOB sueJ EZCT: Ur:i dentified Flying Objects (UFO) 1;~ght Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433 Ir. accordance tvi th AFR 200-2 as supplemented, the following Unidentified F~}dng Object (UFO) Report is submitted for your action. a. Description of the object(s): (1) Observer r.umber 1 and 2 -round. (2) Observer number 1 and 2 -compared to the size of a 8 i~ch wall clock at a distance of 10 feet. (3) Observe~ number 1 -white. Obse rver number 2 -white with small red light at the b tom. Red light approximately one-tenth size of white object. (4) Observer n umber 1 and 2 -two. (5) Obse:---e-!' number 1 and 2 -in formation, o:.~-~r, remained i:: .:--:>~ation during entire sighting. o ects approximateiy same size as objects. one behind the Distance bet~1een Observe~ number 1 -appeared to b e light like a glo~1ir.s 3.nd spinning. Obser:~:-number Obse r ver and 2 - no or exhaust observed. (3) Obse~r~r n umber 1 and 2 - no sound heard. However, observers ~s~= automobile , stationary with engine running, and only the driver's (c-::=:=:--:::-n u!::,e:-3 ) ,,,indow slightly opened. . ? ) Obser;ar n umber 1 and 2 -both observers claimed familiarity -~lanes, helicopters, blimps; and missiles, both stated the sib'::.!- objects di1 not resemble any of these common air vehicles. b. Description of course of object(s): Peace is our Profession (1) Observer number 1 was in right front seat of automobile in motion over rough dirt ravine access road at app~oximately 10 MPH when she observed objects ahead, above and slightly to the right. Immediately brought the objects to the attention of observers number 2 and 3. (2) Approximately forty (40) degrees elevation and ten (10) degrees to the right of automobile's line of motion. (3) Approximately forty (40) degrees elevation and forty (40) degrees to the left of automobile's line of motion. (4) Observer number 1 -objects moved from right to left in straigtt lir.e and then turned slightly to the left just before disappearing out of line of vision . I mmediately after slight left turn, the lead object changed shape fro~ spherical to vertical ellipitical and objects appea~=d to accelerate. Observer nu~ber 2 -confirmed above observations and further stated that when lead ob~ect changed shape, the small red light associated with t~e lead object ~as n o longer visible. Observers number 2 observed entir9 visible flight of object through binoculars. (5) Observer r-~;.ber. 1 and 2 -objects disappeared over ridge of caryc~ t o t he north, northea st. (6) Observer r- 3r 1 -one minute. Observer r. ber 2 -twenty seconds. (1) Group -,;isual. (2) Japanese ~aL~factured binoculars. Constellation 8x30 ZCF. ( 3) Not applic2ol e Ti~e and date of sighting: r:ight (no noon) e. stion of observers: ( l ) Longitude 120 49' W, Latitude 35 16' N, 4 nautical miles from San Luis Obispo VORTAC on 255 degrees radial. 1964 Ford Thunderbird hardtop ~as proceeding east along Isly Creek on Sly Creek Road. Road is in canyon ~.:i t h steep brush covered hills on both sides. Hills exceed 1000 feet i1SL in elevation. f. Identifying information on observer(s): (1) Observer nmnber 1 -Mrs a ge 20, t cn1porarily residing with Sister-in-tnw a ve, San Luis Obispo, California; occupation Beautician; Ca married (husband cares for patients a t Atascadero State Hospital); high school education. Familiar with ai~craft appearances and sounds from observation. She has never flo1rn in aircraft or traveled extensively. Was .non-commental on belief or disb3liefs concerning existence of Flying Saucers. The observer does not C.::--i:ll< i ntoxicating beverages, use drugs, or is .under the care of a pcyz an. It isthe opinion of the preparing office r that this person i s c pletely reliable. She displayed no indications of being the h:,rs-=: .. ical or nervous type of individual, and did see objects that she could not ~Qentify as b eing something within her depth of technical knowledge a -2xperience (2) Obser1er nQ~ber 2 -Mrs e 24 Dri".-e ~ San Luis Obispo, California; occupation Bookkeeper; Cat ... ..., .... ~ hig1: school education. Familiar with aircraft appearances and sounds from obse~:ation. She has never flovm in aircraft or traveled extensively. Sta-':.:?.1 that the first t hing that came to her mind was Flying Saucers. She fur-:.::~r stated she had observed many photos of Flying Saucers in news ~ec s, and had read co~3iderable literature on the subject. Also that she recs~tly vi Los Angeles) when a Flying Sat.:.c~r believer 1vas the program 1-1as very convincing. This person admits believ~ng in Flying Saucers and that their source is nuss~a and not outer sp~ce. The observe r does not drink intoxicating b~v ges, use drugs} is under the care of a physician. It is the opir~on of the preparing officer that the reliability of this person is que ionable because c= ~er obvious strong conviction concerni ng manned air plat:c~s from a foreisn country. This convicti on could conceivably co::-~:.:se tl:e nental pj -:u and logic analysis of any observation that i s not i!ihile~a:.ely recognizz:-:>le within he r depth of knovlledge. The observer appeared to b e the sli~r.tly nervous type and very talkative 1vhich leads the prep2r g officer t o ~slieve she could have directly influenced the other tuo cbs~r-.-ers into believing he r theories at the time of the sighting. Part larly sinca she 1~as the only observer who had access to binoculars . She ~d not reported ~e~ observations to any civil or military authorities. S~e ha= tioned the in~ident to a friend who t elephoned the information 1:,0 t he -_'J-ife of a Vanie~t>erg AB officer who in tur n reported it to the ! d .. li ~:..:.:~-2.!.:-:,hor i ties a-v Vandenberg AFB, California. :::) Obse:r:er !J.l..'Tlber 3 -Husband of Mrs age 24 -~-e, San Luis Obispo, California; occupa on Auto Pa s ::=:~: ; Catholic; high school education. Not available for comments on o~s~...--::::.:.on. HoHe-{er, I-1rs. stated her husband was a skeptic conce:-r-= --~ ::tlying Saucers and ere was a logical explanation of v1hat they had observed. (4) Not applicable . g. eather and Winds -Aloft conditions at t ime and Place of sighti:;1gs: (1) Clear, dark night and no moon. (3) Estimat~d 400 foot ceiling in area. (4) Five (5) miles in fog. Wind 320 /6K. . (5) Overcast, surface temperature 56F and Dew Point 53F. (6) Not applicable. (7) Not available. t . Contact by the p~:paring officer with local airports, Sheriff's Office, Highway Patrol, City Police, and Fire Department concerning any unusca: occurrence in tts area during the sighting period resulted in neg:1-:i -.-e reports. The S::e!':Lff s Office did remember hearing a low flying aircrEft circling San L~is Obispo shortly after dusk. This confirmed obser.-::r number 2 .!'Jent that they had witnessed a low flying aircraft as they neare~ San Luis Obispo s~)~tly after the sighting. i. :::ot applicable. j. Airfields, airports, and FAA facilities reported negative traffic in the ::-~?OY"t:d area d::r:.::-!g the time of the sighting. However, this is i nc one l~si ,.-s bee a use n:a"'::r ci vi 1 aircraft in this area do not file flight plans ar:d te:1d t o foll.:~i -the coast as a visual reference for navigation. k . Rob~rt L. Hess, ::ajor, USAF, FV2101634, Chief, Helicopter Section, 4392d Ae~os?ace Support G~oup, SAC, Vandenberg AFB, California. Analysis by prepari~b officer: During this season of the year, it is cus-:.c-:;:a~-for fog t.o :'orm along the coastal regions with low thin layer of stratus clo~ds ext ending inland for approximately eight to ten miles. -.~:.=r: an aircraf t is observed from the ground flying near or in a thi~ st~a s cloud laya~ or in an obscured fog condition, any visible aircra:~-: ::.:.g-:.t will te:-1.:. to diffuse and take on the appearance of a bright area cf ~:. . It is t~s opinion of the preparing officer that the object( s ) c~served was an ircraft with wi hts on t conditi :~ 2ive osition t o air aft or airport in e area, flying siigfi"'i~/ .:.Ot) <t;e a thin S ra US cloud layer, and WaS the same aircraft reported by the Sheriff's Office as having been heard circling the city at low altit~cie. Because of the angle from which the objects were observed, it is possible that the reported r ed lights could have been the left red navigatio~ light and the anti-collision light. A temporary partial break from the cloud condition could explain the change in shape of one of the objects. The lack of any reported sound could be attributed to the observers being in an enclosed automobile with the motor and heater running, the excitement on the part of the observers, and the apparent continious exchange of verbal comments. 1. Not applicable. FOR Tfi:E COMMANDF:R RO~E -H. SINSABAUGH, Lt Colonel, USAF Director of Operations lStrat Aerosp Div (DO) PROJECT 10073 RECORD 1. Ol lE TIME GROUP 2. LOCATION 28 AUGUSt 66 San Lui~ Obispo, California ( ~ \;itr.es s cs) 10. CONCLUSION c. NliMf\EA OF OBJECTS ~. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 11, IN II .. IUMMARY ANO ANAL YIIS al -)) Minutes lt. lYPE OF OBSERVATION Grouni-Visual (BX) 9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE fTD SEP63 0-329 (TOE) ~ different obscrvnrs r c }X)rtod sceifu an Wlusunl o bj ect in tho vicinity of San Luis Obispo, Calif. Object was compared with a larGe wea t hvr balloon by one observer. The object was reported to be row1tl in sh:lpe and being amber and silver in color, depenciinR on the ohservl3r. Both observers just hap;:cn~.~d