Project 10073 Record: UFO Observation, 30 Jan 67 - Crosby, North Dakota

This document contains the records of a UFO sighting reported on January 30, 1967, near Crosby, North Dakota. The primary witness, a 51-year-old male with commercial pilot experience and former Army Air Force service, reported observing an oblong, bright white object that resembled a mercury vapor light. The witness, who was in a car with two other individuals at the time, described the object as traveling in a northwest to southeast direction before climbing upward and disappearing. During the flight, the witness noted that small pieces of light separated from the main object and dropped downward. The duration of the sighting was estimated at between 30 seconds and one minute. The witness reported no sound associated with the object. Following the initial report, the Foreign Technology Division (FTD) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base determined the information was insufficient for a scientific evaluation and requested that the witness complete a formal FTD Form 164. The witness provided additional details, including an angular size estimate of 1/4 to 1/5 of a match head at arm's length. Major Chester A. Shaw Jr. of the 810th Strategic Aerospace Division at Minot Air Force Base conducted the follow-up, noting that while the witness seemed reliable, the two other individuals present were not interviewed. The final conclusion recorded on the project record form is that the description of the object fits that of a hot air balloon.