DECLASSIFIEDUSAF PROJECT BLUE BOOK · NARA T-1206
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

PROJECT BLUE BOOK

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT CASE FILES · 1947 – 1969
CASE REFERENCE6781031
DATE OF SIGHTINGMay 1969
REPORTED LOCATIONNEof Dayton Ohio
FRAMES15

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Transcribed Frames

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PROJECT NOO73 RECORD
1.' DATE·TIME GROUP .LOCATION
02/2215
2 May 69 03/02152 ME of Dayton, Chio
3. SOURCE 10. CONCLUSION
Civilian Other (SATELLITE DECAY)
. NUMBER OF OAJECTS
One Identified as debris from Explor
5. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION 1. BRIEF SUMMARY AMD ANALYSIS
The observer was flying at 35,0oo ft approx 65 NM northeast
30 - 40 Seconds of Dayton, Chio when he sighted what he thought was a
6. TYPE OF OBSERVATION satellite decay.
Air-Visual Y -
7. 7. COURSE COURSE
Seen in SW
a. PHOTOS
n Yos
XXNo
3. 9. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
07 Yes 07 Yas
XX No XXNo
FOR4 -od
FTO SEPA)
1
. .
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FLUTTEROR WOSBLE?
14. WHAT DREW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE PHENOMENON?
NathingJunt loctlong annd cne
f Cm
A. HOW DID IT FINALLY DISAPPEAR!
Ded
B. DID THE PHENOMENON MOVE BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF SOMETHING, LIKE A CLOUO, TREE, OR BUILDING AT ANY TIME?
YES NO. IF *YES,"DESCRIBE.
/
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15. DRAW A PICTURE THAT WILL SHOW THE SHAPE OF THE PHENOMENON. INCLUDE AND LABEL ANY DETAILS THAT MIGHT HAVE APPEARED AS WINGS OR PROTRUSIONS, AND INDICATE EXHAUST OR VAPOR TRAILS. INDICATE BY AN ARROW THE
DIRECTION THE PHENOMENON WAS MOVING.
io
al
23SD.
16. WHAT WAS THE ANGULAR SIZE? HOLO A MATCH AT ARM'S LENGTH IN FRONT OF A KNOWN OBJECT, SUCH AS A STREET LAMP OR THE MOCN. NOTE HOW MUCH OF THE OSJECT IS COVERED BY THE HEAO OF THE MATCH. NOW IF YOU HAD
BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM THIS EXPERIMENT AT THE TIME OF THE SIGHTING, ESTIMATE WHAT FRACTION OF THE PHENOMENON WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE MATCH HEAD.
.
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17. DID YOU OSSERVE THE PHENOMENON THROUGH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING? INCLUDE INFORMATION ON MODEL,
TYPE, FILTER, LENS PRESCRIPTION OR OTHER APPLICABLE DATA.
EYEGLASSES CAMERA VIEWER
SUNGLASSES BINOCULARS
WINDSHIELO TELESCOPE
SIDE WINDOW OF VEHICLE THEODOLITE
WINDOWPANE OTHER
A. DO YOU ORDINARILY WEAR GLASSES? YES NO B. DO YOU USE READING GLASSES? YES NO
1B. WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE SPEEO OF THE 19. WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE DISTANCE OF THE
PHENOMENON? GIVE ESTIMATE OF SPEED PHENOMENON? GIVE ESTIMATE OF DISTANCE
2O. IN ORDER THAT WE MAY OBTAIN AS CLEAR A PICTURE AS POSSIBLE OF WHAT YOU SAW, DESCRIBE IN YOUR OWN WORDS
A COMMON OBJECT OR OBJECTS WHICH, WHEN PLACED IN THE SKY, SIMILAR TO WHERE YOU NOTED THE PHENOMENON,
WOULD BEAR SOME RESEMBLANCE TO WHAT YOU SAW. DESCRIBE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
COMMON OBJECT AND WHAT YOU SAW.
int
On secnU
Sfagd ged ttey tatey
Na
to
odred Stcan dew
21. OID YOU NOTICE ANY ODOR, NOITE. OR HEAT EMANATING FROM THE PHENOMENON OR ANY EFFECT ON YOURSELF,
ANIMALS OR MACHINERYIN THZ VICINITYI D YES INO. IF"YES."DESCRIBE.
A. DID THE PHENOMENON DISTURB THE GROUND OR LEAVE ANY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. YES D 4 NO.
IF"YES.* DESCRIBE. IF "YES.* DESCRIBE.
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22. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THIS OR A SIMILAR PHENOMENON BEFORE? lYES NO. IF YES," GIVE DATE AND
LOCATION.
23. WAS ANYONE WITH YOU AT THE TIME YOU SAW THE PHENOMENON? C YES NO. IF "YES,"*DID THEY SEE IT TOO?
YES NO.
A. LIST THEIR NA
24. GIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF
LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE NAME.
AD
TELEPH TELEP AGE
MALE MALE FEMALE FEMALE
INDICATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDING OCCUPATION INDICATE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDING OCCUPATION AND ANY EXPERIENCE WHICH MAY BE PERTINENT. AND ANY EXPERIENCE WHICH MAY BE PERTINENT.
9 2
t
h
A
s ordun
25. 25. WHEN AND TO AND TO WHOM WHOM DIO YOU REPORT THAT YOU HAD SIGHTED THAT YOU HAD SIGHTED THIS PHENOMENON? THIS PHENOMENON?
. .
NAME DAY MONTH MONTH YEAR YEAR
26. DATE YOU COMPLETED THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. 26. DATE YOU COMPLETED THIS SQUESTIONNAIRE.
DAY MONTH YEAR YEAR
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Smithsonian Astrophysical Observator covery Progran
3 /Mey3
1.Flight EAL 423 2. Date MAy3,1969 3. Time
abonit 70 pne Eat
?3331
c7 BHM7 427 Pabifon B3HM
5. Plane heading inagnetic 2 24c 6.Altitude 3/, corf7.
7. Crew names and addresses witnessing event
Frfrt, N.yPik
es right or left of plane heading and elevation (in degrees) above horizon
9. of object when lust sighted aedale
10. Apparent brightness: A. Too bright to look at
C. As bright as venus
11. Duration of sighting 2inuites
12. Break up noted and/or color noted
no
To list additional information, please
Date: Date: M1g 3,1969
Signature
If, for any reason, you wish not to be identified with whatever sigh ng you made, please
indicate so indicate so und underneath you signature. Please mail to: derneath you signature. Please mail to:
Mr. Herbert E. Roth
Smithsonian Moonwatch Team Director
C/O United Air Lines Flight Training Center
Staplaton International Airport
Denver, Colorado 802o7U. S. A.
H
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thi gut follow
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i. And it Aed Then them
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Faston Air basies
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DIRECTOR: HERBERT E. ROTH
VEON FIELD OFFICE:
VOLUNTEER FLIGHT OFFICER NETWORK STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
DENVER, COLORADO, 80ZO7, U.S.A.
% UNITED AIRLINES, FLIGHT TRAINING CENTER
TELEPHONE (303) 398-5727
July 22, 1969
Hector Quintanilla, Jr., Lt Colonel, USAF
Chief, Aerial Phenomena Office
Aerospace Technologies Division Aerospace Technologies Division
Production Directorate
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Base
Ohio 45433 Ohio 45433
Dear Dear Col. Quintanilla:
Thank you for your letter of June 26th and for the attached information
relating to VFoN report relating to #1735. #1735.
In placing both reports (yours and #1735) together on the map it appears
both pilots saw quite a coincidence.
If I should happen to get any further word this I will be
certain to get in touch with you.
Sincerely yours,
H.E. Roth, Project Director
Volunteer Flight Officer Network
HER:das
AFFILIATED WITH: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ASTROPHYSIGAL OBSERVATORY
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26 JUN 1969
Possible Identification of duithsonian Report Nr 1735
Mr. Herb Roth
Snithsonian Moomwatch Tean Director
Center
Stapleton International Airport
Denver, Colorado Soao7
Reference yonr report nr. l735, latitude 34o 27' North, longitude Reference yor crth, longitude
85° 52' Vest 850 52' We for 3 May l967 fron Ernest G. Cooper. 'or 3 May l9o7 fron Ernest G. Cooper. Attached is a Attached io a
sighting that we raceived for sighting that we received 2 ,2215 EDT (3/0215Z) from EDT (3/0215Z) from
the co-pilot of a D-S2. It wns our conelusion that the co-pilot of the co-pilot of a D-S2. It Was our conelusion that the co-pilot of
the B-52 had seen the decay of sone satellite debris, probably from the B-52 had ren the decay of some satellite debris, probably from
1967-51A (Ecplorer 34). 1967-51A (Eplorer 34), It seens quite possible that this is what
Captain Cooper also saw, Captain Cooper also saw, but he appears to have made an error in
computing the Greenwich Mean Time. Time.
2
COTOR QUIMTANILLA, Jr, Lt Colonel, USAF Atch
Chief, Aerial Phenomema Office May 69 Sighting
Aerosuace Tachnologies Division
Production Directorate
.
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12 MAY 1969
TDPT (UFO)
Satellite Debris Decay of 2 May 69
Fairborn, Ohio 45324
Reference your sighting of satellite decay on 2 May 69.
The atimulus for your sighting has been identified as debris Thank you for reporting your
fron the satellite Explorer 34. fron the satellite Ext prer 3 Thank you for reporting your
sighting te thin offics. sighting te this office.
HECTOR QUINTANILLA, Jr, Lt Cal, USAF QUINTANILLA, Jr, Lt Cal, USAF'
Caier, Aerial Phenomens Branch
Aeroepace Technologies Division Technologies Division
Production Directorate Production Directorate
0)
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12 May 1969
MEMO FOR RECORD
SDC and talked to Lt. Belendi. The only decay on 3 May 69 SDC #2817.
Called Ol3Oz. It was the payload of 1967-51A; IMP-4;
was at (Explorer 34 satellite)
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WADE
Bent 4017
kutyi
SIGHTING OF UNIDENTIFIED PHENOMENA QUESTIOMMAIRE BUDGET BUREAU APPROYAL
NUMBER 21-R234
THIS QUESTIONNAIRE HAS BEEN PREPARED SO THAT YOU CAN GIVE THE U.S. AIR FORCE AS MUCH INFORMATION
AS POSSIBLE CONCERNING THE UNIDENTIFIED PHENOMENON THAT YOU HAVE OBSERVED. PLEASE TRY TO
ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS. THE INFORMATION YOU GIVE WILL BE USED FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES.
YOU NAME WILL NOT BE ONNECTION WITH ANY OF YOUR STATEMENTS OR CONCLUSIONS WITHOUT
YOUR PERMISSIGN. RETURN TO AIR FORCE BASE INVESTIGATOR FOR FORWARDING TO FTD (TDETR), WRIGHT-
PATTERSON AFB, OHIO 45433, IAW AFR 8O-T7. (IF ADDITIONAL SHEETS ARE NEEDED FOR NARRATIVE OR SKETCHES
ATTACHSECURELY TO THIS FORM OR ANNOTATE WITH YOUR NAME FOR IDENTIFICATION.)
1. WHEN DID YOU SEE THE PHENOMENON?
DAY_ MONTH YEAR 69
2. WHAT TIME DID YOU FIRST SIGHT THE PHENOMENON?
HOUR MINUTES A.M. E.P.M.
3. WHAT TIME DID YOU LAST SIGHT THE PHENOMENON? i5
4 - 20) HOUR MINUTES P.M.
4. TIME/ZONE 4.TIME/ZONE STANDARD STANDARD
CENTRAL MOUNTAIN D PACIFIC OTHER OTHER
5. 5. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU SAW THE PHENOMENON? IF IN CITY, GIVE THE NEAREST STREET ADDRESS AND INDICATE ON WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU SAW THE PHENOMENON? IF IN CITY. GIVE THE NEAREST STREET ADDRESS AND INDICATE ON
A HAND DRAWN MAP WHERE YOU WERE STANDING WITH REFERENCE TO THE ADDRESS. IF IN THE COUNTRY, IDENTIFY THE
HIGHWAY YOU WERE ON OR NEAR AND TRY TO FIX A DISTANCE AND DIRECTION FROM SOME RECOGNIZABLE LANDMARK.
of of Dayton,Ofe Daytor,Ofhe approx Qpprox 651ma73500o1t. 65kmat 3500ofct
U 1.. ,.. nViest Wiest
DATION
6. IMAGINE YOU ARE AT THE POINT SHOWN IN THE SKETCH, PLACE AN *A* ON THE CURVED LINE TO SHOW HOW HIGH THE
PHENOMENON WAS ABOVE THE HORIZON. OR SXYLINE. WHEN FIRST SEEN. PLACE A B" ON THE SAME CURVED LINE TO
SHOW HOW HIGH AHOVE THE HORIZON THE PHENOMENON WAS WHEN LAST SEEN.
1
1
1
1
. 1 30
1
1
1 15
1
B30001
OBSERVER
a
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6A. NOW IMAGINE YOU ARE ATTHE CENTER OF THE COMPASS ROSE. PLACE AN *A* ON THE COMPASS TO INDICATE THE
DIRECTION TO THE PHENOMENON WHEN FIRST SEEN. PLACE A B° ON THE COMPASS TO INDICATE THE DIRECTION TO
THE PHENOMENON WHEN LAST SEEN.
N
NNW NNE
N NE
WNW ENE
WSW ESE
SW SE
sSW SSE
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8. WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU SAW THE PHENOMENON? (CheCK apPrOpriAte blOcKS.)
OUTDOORS IN BUSINESS SECTION OF CITY
e
IN BUILDING IN RESIDENTIAL SECTION OF CITY
IN CAR □ AS DRIVER 0 AS PASSENGER OPEN COUNTRYSIDE
IN BOAT NEAR AIRFIELD
IN AIRPLANE 3 AS PILOT AS PASSENGER FLYING OVER CITY
OTHER FLYING OVER OPEN COUNTRY
OTHER
A. IF YOU WERE IN A VEHICLE, COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
WHAT DIRECTION WERE YOU MOVING? HOW FAST WERE YOU MOVING?
NORTH EAST
SOUTH WEST DID YOU STOP ANYTIME WHILE OESERVING THE
PHENOMENON?
NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST
NORTHWEST SOUTHWEST 0 YeS NO
EXPLAIN WHETHER SUCH MOVEMENT AFFECTS YOUR SKETCHES IN ITEMS 5 AND 6.
DESCRIBE TYPE OF VEHICLE YOU WERE IN AND TYPE OF ROAD, TERRAIN OR BODY OF WATER YOU TRAVERSED DURING
THE SIGHTING. STATE WHETHER WINDOWS OR CONVERTIBLE TOP WERE UP OR DOWN. THE SIGHTING. STATE WHETHER WINDOWS OR CONVERTIBLE TOP WERE UP OR DOWN.
HOW MUCH OTHER TRAFFIC WAS THERE? HOW MUCH OTHER TRAFFIC WAS THERE?
DID YOU NOTICE ANY AIRPLANES? YES YES NO. IF "YES," DESCRIBE WHEN THEY WERE IN SIGHT RELATIVE TO THE TIME NO. IF *YES," DESCRIBE WHEN THEY WERE IN SIGHT RELATIVE TO THE TIME
OF SIGHTING THE PHENOMENON OF SIGHTING THE PHENOMENON AND AND WHERE THEY WERE IN THE SKY RELATIVE TO THE POSITION OF THE PHENOMENON. THEY WERE IN THE SKY RELATIVE TO THE POSITION OF THE PHENOMENON.
9. HOWL ONG WAS THE PHENOMENON IN SIGHT?
LENGTH OF TINE CERTAIN OF TIME NOT VERY SURE
FAIRLY CERTAIN JUST A GUESS
HOW WAS TIME DETERMINEO?
-
WAS THE PHENOMENON IN SIGHT CONTINUOUSLY? HYES NO. IF "NO," INDICATE WHETHER THIS IS DUE TO YOUR
MOVEMENT OR THE REHAVIOR OF THE PMENOMENON. AND DESCRIBE SUCH MOVEMENT OR BEHAVIOR. INDICATE DISAR.
PEARANCES ON PREVIOUS SKETCHES.
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1O. IF THERE WERE MORE THAN ONE PHENOMENON, HOW MANY WERE THERE? DRAW A PICTURE TO SHOW HOW THEY WERE
ARRANGED. DIO THIS ARRANGEMENT CHANGE OURING THE SIGHTING?
11. COnDITIONs (Check appropriate blocks.)
A. SKY B. WEATHER
DAY CUMULUS CLOUDS (LoW fluffy) FOG OR MIST
TWILIGHT CIRRUS CLOUDS (High fleecy or Herring HEAVY RAIN
NIGHT bone) LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE
CLEAR NIMBUS CLOUDS (Rain) HAIL
PARTLY CLOUDY CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS SNOW OR SLEET
COMPLETELY OVERCAST (Thunderstorms) UNKNOWN
HAZE OR SMOG NONE OF THE ABOVE
C.IF THE SIGHTING WAS AT TWILIGHT OR NIGHT, WHAT DID YOU NOTICE ABOUT STARS AND MOON?
(1) STARS (2) (2) MOON
NONE BRIGHT MOONLIGHT BRIGHT MOONLIGHT NO MOONLIGHT
A FEW MOON WITH HALO UNKNOWN
MANY MOON HIDDEN BY CLOUDS MOON HIDDEN BY CLOUDS
UNKNOWN PARTIAL(New Or quarter) PARTIAL(New Or quarter)
D. IF SIGHTING WAS IH OAYLIGHT, WAS THE SUN VISIBLE? D. IF SIGHTING WAS IN OAYLIGHT, WAS THE SUN VISIBLE? YES YES NO. NO. IF "YES," WHERE WAS THE SUN AS YOU FACED IF "YES," WHERE WAS THE SUN AS YOU FACED
THE PHENOMENON?
IN FRONT OF YOU TO YOUR RIGHT OVERHEAD (NeG noon)
IN BACK OF YOU TO YOUR LEFT UNKNOWN
E. SPECIFY THE MAJOR SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION PRESENT DURING THE SIGHTING, SUCH AS THE SUN, HEADLIGHTS OR
STREET LAMP, ETC. FOR TERRESTRIAL ILLUMINATION, SPECIFY DISTANCE TO LIGHT SOURCE.
12. GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHEN MENON, INDICATING WHETHER IT APPEARED DARK OR LIGHT, WHETHER IT
REFLECTEO LIGHT OR WAS SELF-LUMINOUS AND WHAT COLORS YOU NOTICED. DESCRIBE YOUR IMPRESSION OF WHETHER
IT WAS SOLID OR TRANSPARENT, WHET-ER EOGES WERE SHARP OR FUZZY. DESCRIRE THE SHAPE OR INDICATE IF IT
APPEARED AS A POINT OF LIGHT. INDICATE COMPARISONS WITH OTHER OBSERVED OBJECTS, LIKE STARS, A LIGHT OR
OTHER OSJECT IN YOUR FELO OF VIEW
+.
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