 presents
The 1965 UFO Chronology
 The Rex Heflin photographs in panorama Created: July 12, 2006 This is an 10-page chronology
of
UFO incidents for 1965. This year encompasses more recognized
incidents in one group than any other
year I am aware of. To name a few: The May 6 Philippine Sea radar
case, the July 3 E-M case at Antarctica, the Aug. 2 Sherman,
TX/Campbell photo case, the Aug. 3 Santa Ana/Rex Heflin photo case, the
Aug. 2 (or 3rd) Tulsa, OK/Alan Smith photo, the Aug. 19 Cherry Creek,
NY, trace case, the Sept. 2/3 Exeter, NH close encounter, the famous
Edwards AFB encounter of Oct. 7, followed by the Northeast Power Grid
Failure of November 9th.
NICAP
Site CoordinatorOur thanks for these chronologies must go to our documentation team: Richard Hall (the original chronology from UFOE II), William Wise (Project Blue Book Archive), Dan Wilson (archive researcher), and Brad Sparks (Comprehensive Catalog of Project Blue Book Unknowns). Last, but not least, our thanks to Jean Waskiewicz who created the online NICAP DBase (NSID) that helped make it possible to link from the cases to the reports themselves. FOTOCAT Report #2 was recently released: "Argentina. The
Year 1965 in
Photos" (Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos, Oct. 2006)
http://www.anomalia.org/fotocat/argentina1965en.pdfFrancis Ridge The 1965 UFO Chronology___________________________________________________ December 1964-January 1965
sighting concentration around Washington, DC, which led to CIA contact
with NICAP to obtain information.
Jan. 5, 1965; Wallops Island, VA Aerospace engineer watched round glowing object move rapidly from horizon to nearly overhead (section IV; Section VIII). Jan. 11, 1965; Washington, DC. Army Signal Corps communications system specialists observed 12-15 white ovals maneuvering erratically, with jets seen in pursuit (Section II). Jan. 12, 1965: Blaine AFB, Wash. (BBU) Member of a federal agency, who was driving toward the base,
saw a low-flying object, 30 ft in diameter, which avoided collision at
the last moment. He got out of the car and saw it hovering for 1 min,
then fly off at high speed. Object tracked on radar. Same night, a
round, glowing object with a dome on top landed on a nearby farm,
melting snow in a 30 ft diameter circle. (UFOE II, Section V;
Vallée Magonia 630;
NICAP March 1965; BB files??)
Jan. 14, 1965; Wilmot, NH Cat. 3. Luminous object hovering, humming sound, electricity resumed when object sped away. Jan. 19, 1965; Brand's Flats, VA. Humanoid beings emerged from landed object at archery range, approached witness, who froze, apparently paralyzed (Section XII). Jan. 23, 1965; Lightfoot, N of Williamsburg, Virginia (BBU
9242)
8:40 a.m. Cars stalled near intersection of US Hwy 60 and
State Route 614, witness T. F. Mains saw light-bulb or mushroom-shaped
object 75-80 ft tall, 10-25 ft wide, metallic gray, red-orange and blue
glows, hovering over nearby field about 4 ft off the ground, making a
vacuum cleaner-type noise, suddenly accelerate horizontally to the W
against the wind and disappear. (UFOE II, Section VIII; Berliner; cf.
Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 177-8;
Vallée Magonia 633)
Jan. 24-28, 1965; Unknown location in Alaska (BBU) (McDonald List) Jan. 27, 1965; Hampton, VA NASA engineer saw V-shaped object with red-orange lights zigzagging at low level. Object touched down briefly, took off, rapidly climbed out of sight (UFOE II, Section IV). Jan. 24-28, 1965; Alaska (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Feb. 11, 1965; Pacific Ocean (Bt. Alask and Japan) Flying Tiger aircrew observed three red oval objects, tracked on airborne and ground radar. Paced aircraft for 30 minutes, departed upward at high speed (UFOE II, Section I). March 2, 1965; E of Weeki Wachee, near Brooksville, Florida
(BBU)
1:55 p.m. John F. Reeves, 65, retired, while walking in the
woods saw an bluishgreen and reddish-purple object 20-30 ft in
diameter, 6 ft thick, saucer-shaped with an outer rim and a stairway,
with 2 2-ft windows on top, landed on the ground on 4 4-ft legs about
2,000 ft away. He approached to 100 ft. After watching it for 10 mins
[?], he saw a robot-like being about 200-300 ft away, about 5 ft tall,
wearing a gray-silver uniform, glass dome headgear, wide-spaced eyes,
pointed chin, walking to 15 ft from Reeves, stared at him for 1-1/2
mins, pointing a box [?] or 6-7-inch black object at Reeves that
emitted a flash 3 times, then walked back to the landed vehicle and
climbed in. Object had Venetian-blind-like blades on the rim that
opened and closed, rim started rotating counterclockwise, landing gear
retracted, then it took off with a whooshing-rumbling sound and
disappeared vertically in < 10 secs, dropping 2 sheets of paper with
indecipherable writing, and leaving indentations and footprints in the
ground. Investigated
by MacDill AFB. (Vallée Magonia 638; etc.) [Note: Richard Hall
supervised the investigation for NICAP and concluded that it was a
hoax]
March 4, 1965; Corvallis, Oregon (BBU 9301)
9:23 [6:30?] p.m. W. V. Harrison and his employee while
driving in a car saw 3 yellow-orange spheres or lights rise rapidly
from the ground, several seconds apart. Next day an oily spot was found
at the site. (Berliner; cf. Vallée Magonia 639)
March 8, 1965; Mount Airy, Maryland (BBU 9305)
7:40 p.m. J. H. Martin, instrument maker for National Bureau
of Standards, and 2 others, saw 6 lights fly overhead slowly [and/or a
cigar-shaped object with 2 fixed red lights, fly above them, just
missed hitting the house, disappearing to the NE]. (Berliner; cf.
Vallée Magonia 640)
March 15, 1965; Everglades, FL Hovering cone-shaped object, animal reaction. Witness struck on forehead by light beam, unconscious, eye damage. Damaged foliage found at site (UFOE II, Section I). March 18, 1965; Himeji, Japan Object paced plane, E-M. April 4, 1965; Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi (BBU 9345)
4:05 a.m. USAF A/2c Corum, weather observer, with
confirmation by college student R. Pittman not clear from available
data. Saw a 40 ft black, oval object with 4 lights along the bottom,
fly in and out of the clouds. (UFOE II, Section I, Berliner)
April 10-14, 1965; Misawa AFB, Japan (BBU)
(McDonald list)
April 18, 1965; Bernalillo, New Mexico Photos, nuclear connection. April 23, 1965; Rivesville, West Virginia (BBU)
8 a.m. Woman saw a 25 ft object land near her house while
she was working in the kitchen. Shaped like a disk, with portholes, a
cylinder about 3 ft high, a sliding door from which a small being,
about 3 ft tall emerged and jumped to the ground. Its face was not
clearly visible but it had pointed ears, a sort of tail, was linked to
the main object by a cable, wore white clothing, picked up something
from the ground, then re-entered the cylinder, which slid up into the
larger white disk. Outside rim of landed object started spinning in a
counterclockwise motion with a soft whistling sound, it then rose
straight up out of sight. (Vallée Magonia 644)
May 6, 1965; Philippine Sea (BBU)
9:10 a.m. [GMT? = 6:10? p.m. Local Time?] Crew of USN ship
heading W at 265° at 15 knots sighted aircraft at bearing 000°
[N?] approaching. At 9:14 the SPS-6C air search radar detected 4
targets at ranges up to 22 miles for the next 6 mins at extremely high
speed 3,000 knots (3,500 mph) and various maneuvers, viewed through
binoculars appeared as 3 lighted objects one of 1st stellar magnitude
the others 2nd magnitude. Objects hovered directly over the ship for 3
mins as confirmed visually and on radar by the Commanding Officer,
bridge crew and others on deck. No IFF response, one object to
starboard appeared larger on radar. Objects departed to the SE at
extremely high speed. (Hynek UFO Exp ch. 7, case RV-5)
May 7, 1965; Oxford, Mich. (BBU 9389)
7:30 p.m. M. E. Marshall saw a light, like a satellite,
split into 2 parts, one of which was copperish color, then 2 more
joined up. One object may have been tumbling. (Berliner)
May 20, 1965; Leroy Township, Ohio Dog and horse reacted to disc at rooftop altitude. May 24, 1965; Mackay, Australia. Circular UFO with three legs on or near the ground, trees illuminated. Departed rapidly with buzzing sound. Circular ring impression found at site (UFOE II, Section VII). May 28, 1965; Townsville, North Queensland, Australia Elliptical object paced airliner, accelerated and sped away, photographs taken (UFOE II, Section III). June 5, 1965; Lynn/Nahant, Mass. UFOs over GE facility, nuclear connection. June 8-9, 1965; Turkey (BBU)
(McDonald list)
June 29, 1965; Frankfurt, West Germany (BBU)
(McDonald list)
July 1, 1965; Valensole, France
Elliptical object with legs observed on ground, two small humanoids pointed pencil-like device at witness, paralyzing him. Strong physical trace evidence at site (UFOE II, Section, XII). July 3, 1965; Antarctica
(BBU)
UFO interfered with instruments measuring magnetic fields.
(UFOE II, Sections IV, VIII; McDonald list)
July 6, 1965; Arlington, Texas (BBU)
(McDonald list)
July 6, 1965; Kiel, Wisc. (BBU 9474)
9:30 p.m. Mrs. E. R. Hayner saw a flashing light, like a
satellite. No further data in the files. (Berliner)
July 8, 1965; Sunnyvale, CA. Police lieutenant and officer saw hovering white object that undulated, darted here and there, zigzagged, and sped away (UFOE II, Section, V). July 13, 1965; Penna. and Ohio (BBU)
(McDonald list)
July 19, 1965; Vaucluse, N.S.W., Australia Domed disc with legs on beach, dogs barked loudly. Object took off with sound of rushing air, yellow-orange glow from underside (UFOE II, Section, IV). July 20, 1965; Chesterville, Ontario, Canada Domed object paced car, climbed out of sight (UFOE II, Section, XII). July 22, 1965; Forbes AFB, Kansas (BBU)
(McDonald list)
July 25, 1965; Castalia, Ohio (BBU 9550)
9:15 p.m. Amateur astronomer M. D. Harris, 16, saw a bright
blue star cross 90° of sky. (Berliner)
July 27, 1965; Carnarvan, W. Australia Bull Terrier reacted when an object hovered above car it was riding in. July 30, 1965; Wynnewood, OK Ground visual and Air Force radar. July 31-September 3, 1965: Southwestern U.S. Sighting wave mostly in Southwestern U.S. and northward through the central tier of states, later in eastern U.S. (See separate chronology, UFOE II, Section, VIII.) July 31 - Aug. 3, 1965; Unknown location, Oklahoma (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Minuteman II Operational in
August 1965
The LGM-30F Minuteman II featured
many improvements. It had a completely new Aerojet General SR19-AJ-1
second stage motor, which increased range by about 1600 km (1000
miles). Its guidance unit used solid-state circuitry, and could store
up to eight sets of target coordinates. The first LGM-30F launch
occurred in September 1964, and the first missiles became operational
in August 1965.
During the first days of August, 1965, major portions of the
American Midwest and west were the scene of numerous sightings of
mysterious flying craft. The night of August 2-3, saw a large number of
sightings by a large number of witnesses and Santa Ana, California, was
the setting the next morning for Rex Heflin's famous Polaroid images of
a dome-topped UFO zooming across the highway.
Aug. 1, 1965; Ent AFB, Colo. (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Aug. 1 and 2, 1965; Whiteman AFB, Missouri (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Aug. 2, 1965; Justin, Texas (BBU)
Two Tarrant County deputy sheriffs saw an object as bright
as burning magnesium, land as they patrolled near Wagle Mountain Lake.
Extensive investigation by police found no traces. (Vallée
Magonia 667)
Aug. 2, 1965; Oklahoma City, Okla. (BBU)
Two children saw a brilliant, round object without wings,
close to the ground, in the 600 block on Northwest 63. (Vallée
Magonia 668)
Aug. 2, 1965; Sherman, TX Campbell NL photo. Aug. 2, 1965; Wichita, KS Ground/visual. Weather radar tracked 4-5 UFOs. August 3, 1965
Denver Post editorial: "Maybe it's time for more people to get serious
about the UFO question. ... If we still choose to be skeptical, we
nevertheless are not nearly so ready as we once were to dismiss all
reports of variously shaped but elusive flying objects as products of
midsummer night dreams."Aug. 3, 1965; Santa Ana, Calif. Highway investigator Rex Heflin, three Polaroid photos of domed-disc UFO (UFOE II, Section, VII) Aug. 3, 1965; Cocoa, Florida (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Aug. 3, 1965; Lake Hefner, Okla. (BBU)
Young man saw an object rise from the lake area.
(Vallée Magonia 669)
Aug. 3, 1965; Tulsa, OK 14 year-old boy (Alan Smith) took photo. May or may not be a hoax. Date of photo in question (Aug 2 or 3rd). Aug. 4, 1965; Dallas, Texas (BBU)
1:30 a.m. Man in a car saw a red and blue light, thought it
came from a police car, then was passed by a huge, orange object flying
at ground level. (Vallée Magonia 672)
August 4, 1965
Fort Worth Star Telegram (TX) editorial: "They can stop kidding us now
about there being no such thing as 'flying saucers. . . .' Too many
people of obviously sound mind saw and reported them independently. . .
.... Their descriptions of what they saw were too similar to one
another, and too unlike any familiar object"Aug. 4, 1965. Calumet AFS, Mich. (BBU)
USAF radar tracking of 10 targets in V-formation traveling
from the SW at about 9,000 mph over Lake Superior at 5,200 to 17,000 ft
(1-3 miles). Other targets other Duluth chased by USAF jets. (UFOE II,
Section VII; Todd
Lemire; UFOCAT)
August 4, 1965; Abilene, KS
E-M effects on truck, domed disc swooped overhead, hovered just above road, blocked highway (UFOE II, Section, VI). Aug. 4, 1965; Dallas, Texas (BBU 9675)
9:30 p.m. J. A. Carter, 19, saw a light fly fast, straight
and level. No further data in files. (Berliner)
Aug. 4, 1965; Tinley Park, Illinois (BBU 9680)
11:35 p.m. 2 unnamed 14 year-olds saw a light move around
the sky. No further data in files. (Berliner)
Aug. 6, 1965
Cascade (ID) News editorial: "An objective observer is about forced to
the conclusion that there are objects of some sort appearing in the
skies that cannot be explained by any conventional circumstances. There
is absolutely no reason to deny the UFOs' existence because we don't
understand them."Aug. 8, 1965; Beaver, PA
Lucci Photo Aug. 10, 1965; Nashville, IN Two discs below clouds observed from aircraft. Aug. 10, 1965; Seattle, WA. Boeing aerospace engineer saw two silvery, disc-shaped objects that hovered for several minutes, departed upward at high speed one after the other (UFOE II, Section, IV). Aug. 10, 1965; Pacific Northwest
9:40 P.M. Fireball meteor traveling easterly across northeast sky. Aug. 11, 1965; Beaver, PA Dog "went crazy" at hovering disc. August 13, 1965
Portsmouth (NH) Herald editorial: "Perhaps we really do have visitors
from somewhere beyond our present ken."Aug. 13, 1965; Baden, Penna. (BBU) 9:30 p.m.?] 37 year-old civilian had just put his car
in the garage when he saw an disk-shaped object about 300 ft in
diameter, fly in front of the moon (which rose in the E about 9:30 p.m.
EDT at 107° azimuth) on a N heading at about 50 mph about 2,300 ft
away, surrounded with orange lights that weakened as a blue source came
on, very intense for about 3 secs. Then all lights disappeared and a
sort of "shock wave" effect shaking tree leaves ensued. Witness
entered his house and called the USAF, 20 mins later his vision became
hazy, eyes painful, gradually losing vision in both eyes, and his
entire body was "sunburned." Medical exam compared symptoms to UV
exposure. Vision came back gradually over several days. (Vallée
Magonia 677)
Aug. 16, 1965
Christian Science Monitor editorial: "[UFOs] sighted early this month
over Texas may give scientists something to think about for a long
time. . . . They give the clearest evidence of all that something
strange actually was in the sky. ... It makes the clearest case yet for
a thorough look at the saucer mystery."Aug. 18, 1965; Noblesville, IN
Top-shaped object with dome, body lights, hovered over car. E-M case. Aug. 18, 1965; Cherry Creek, New York Bull tried to escape as football-shaped object hovered. Aug. 19, 1965; Cherry Creek, New York (BBU 9806) 8:20-9 p.m. (EDT). Mrs. William Butcher, son Harold, 17, and
children [3 students?], heard radio interference and beeping sound in a
barn, went outside to see 50 ft wide saucer like two plates lip-to-lip
[elliptical?], 20 ft thick, shiny silver or chrome color with red
glowing streamers [reddish vapor underneath?] and leaving a red-yellow
trail, which landed nearby then rapidly ascended into the clouds
turning the clouds bright green a few seconds later; burned gasoline
odor; farm animals reacted and later reduced milk production. Object
returned twice at 8:45 and 9 p.m. finally disappearing to SSW [or SW?].
Radio drowned out by static, a tractor engine stopped. Next day, a
purplish liquid, 2 ft x 2 ft marks and patches of singed grass were
found at the site by USAF Capt. James Dorsey and 4 technicians from
Niagara Falls AFB. (UFOE II, Section I; Berliner; cf. Hynek UFO Rpt pp.
170-2;
Vallée Magonia 675, 684)
Aug. 20, 1965; Plattsburgh, New York (BBU)
(McDonald list)
August 21, 1965
Science editor, Christian Science Monitor: "Flying saucers are all but
literally knocking on the laboratory door. . . . Something definitely
is going on that cannot yet be explained."Aug. 28, 1965; Glasgow AFB, Montana (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Aug. 30, 1965; Urbana, Ohio (BBU 9864)
10:30 p.m. M. A. Lilly, N. Smith and T. Nastoff, saw a white
ball, 5-8 ft in diameter and trailed by a 2-3 ft light, hit the road
100 ft in front of the witnesses' car, then bounce and fly away.
(Berliner)
Aug. 31, 1965; Nevada (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Sept. 3, 1965; 3 miles SW of Exeter, New Hampshire (BBU 9890) 1-3 a.m. (EDT). Exeter Patrolmen Eugene Bertrand, Jr. and
David Hunt, and Norman Muscarello saw a large silent, dark, elliptical
object with a row of 5 bright red lights oriented about 60° to
horizontal, move slowly and erratically around houses and trees at 100
ft height to SE [or 60-70 ft height 100 ft away], lighting up the
ground and houses in red light, while lights blinked in sequence;
falling leaf motion. Farm animals very noisy. Disappeared at 160°
magnetic after covering about 135° arc [from NNE?]. (Berliner; cf.
Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 154-166; UFOE II, Section V)
Sept. 3, 1965; Damon, Texas (BBU 9915) 11 p.m. Brazoria County Chief Sheriff's Deputies Billy McCoy
and Robert Goode saw a triangular object, 150-200 ft long, 40-50 ft
thick at middle and dark grey, with a long, bright, pulsing, purple
[violet?] light on the right side and a long blue light on the left
side, approach to 150 ft off highway and 100 ft in the air. Purple
light illuminated ground beneath object and interior of police car, and
object cast a shadow in moonlight. Driver Goode felt heat on his left
arm and an alligator bite on his left index finger, suddenly relieved
of pain and later healed rapidly but unnaturally. They drove away in
fear but returned later that night to find object still there.
(UFOE II, Section I; Berliner; cf. Vallée Magonia 694)
Sept.14, 1965; Langenhoe, Essex, UK
Domed disc descended, humming sound, blue light. Motorbike engine failed, witness paralyzed, shock, static electricity (UFOE II, Section, IV). Sept. 16, 1965; Pretoria, South Africa Constables in police van encountered domed disc on highway, object lifted off emitting flame; tar and gravel road severely damaged (UFOE II, Section, V). Sept. 22, 1965; Clover, Minn. (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Sept. 25, 1965; Chisholm, Minn. (BBU 9970)
9:55 a.m. Bett Diamon saw 5 orange lights in a row fly fast
and make an abrupt turn. (Berliner)
Sept. 25, 1965; Rodeo, New Mexico (BBU 9971)
10 p.m. Dr. George Walton, physical chemist, and wife, saw 2
round white objects fly side-by-side, at 30-50 ft altitude, pacing the
witnesses' car. (Berliner)
Sept. 26, 1965; Licking County, Ohio (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Sept. 27, 1965; Columbus, OH. At 5:15 P.M., scientist saw metallic-appearing, cigar-shaped object that changed course (UFOE II, Section, IV).
Memo from Maj. Gen. E. B. LeBailly, USAF director of information, to
USAF Scientific Advisory Board requesting a scientific panel to review
the methods and findings of Project Blue Book. LeBailly noted: "Many of
the reports that cannot be explained have come from intelligent and
technically well-qualified individuals whose integrity cannot be
doubted."
Sept. 29, 1965; Swanlake, New York (BBU)
Oct. 4, 1965; West Middletown to Poast Town, Ohio (BBU 10066)
6:45 p.m. Mrs. Helen Tucker and 3 teenage girls driving in a
car turned S onto Brown's Run Road and saw a bright, flashing red and
white object, at one point with sparks shooting off. As they drove W to
Poast Town, the object stopped flashing and appeared steady red and
white (and possibly bluish) and began moving fast (to the SW?) toward
the airport, then it landed past Carmody Blvd. on the river bank but
before reaching the airport, where it looked like a Christmas tree
(lights?), a winged fuselage object with a possible cockpit dome,
then lifted off like a helicopter and looked like (red?) "hot metal."
(Case data missing.) (Berliner; Middletown Journal, Oct. 5, 1965)
Oct. 7, 1965; Edwards AFB, Calif. (BBU) Ground radar tracked 12 objects and USAF F-106 pilot sighted
object(s). (UFOE II, Section II; Weinstein; McDonald list)
Oct. 14, 1965; Sawyer AFB, Mich. (BBU)
(McDonald list)
Oct. 23, 1965; 4 miles from Long Prairie, Minn. (BBU)
7:15 p.m. Radio announcer James F. Townsend driving W
on State Hwy 27 found road blocked by landed silver rocket-shaped
object about 30-40 ft tall, 10 ft wide, after his car engine, lights
and radio died, and he coasted to a stop about 20 ft away. He got out
and saw three small brownish-black "creatures" with "tripod arms and
matchstick legs," no eyes or facial features, emerge from behind the
object, stand underneath in an intense lighted circle, and stare at
each other for 3 mins then they returned to the object. A few secs
later it lifted off and vanished by turning off its lighting about 1/4
mile up. At that moment the car restarted spontaneously and headlights
came on. No traces found on the ground. (Hynek UFO Rpt pp. 206-8;
Vallée Magonia 71)
Massive power blackout in northeastern United States at about 5:25 P.M.
(EST). Some reports of UFOs coincided, with resulting speculation about
a possible relationship (section VII).
Nov. 12, 1965; Undisclosed city in Argentina UFO caused compass on ship to swing off course. Dec. 20, 1965; Herman, MN Domed disc, E-M effects on engine and headlights, truck spun off road into ditch. Object ascended with whistling sound, sparks from underside (UFOE II, Section, VII). |