Project 15073 Record — Sighting Report, Palo Alto, California, 26 April 1968

This document contains a series of correspondence and a formal record regarding a UFO sighting reported by an individual named Sencenbaugh in Palo Alto, California, on April 26, 1968. The witness reported observing a red light moving slowly at a low altitude toward the southwest. After several minutes, the red light fell straight down and disappeared. Shortly thereafter, a white light appeared at the same position before also disappearing. The witness, who was a student at De Anza College, reported the incident to Travis Air Force Base, which forwarded the report to the Aerial Phenomena Office for investigation. In his report, the witness noted that he had attempted to view the object with a 4x power hand-telescope but was unsuccessful. He also observed other aircraft in the area, which he could easily identify as planes, leading him to doubt that the object he saw was a conventional aircraft. Captain H. H. Herrin initially acknowledged the report on May 17, 1968, and informed the witness that the matter was being forwarded to the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Information. Subsequently, Lt Col Hector Quintanilla, Jr., Chief of the Aerial Phenomena Office, responded on June 13, 1968, concluding that the observation was likely a 'garmet bag hot air balloon.' The Air Force stated that they frequently received reports of such balloons, particularly near university campuses, and provided a brief description of this phenomenon to the witness.