Aerial sighting over New Orleans in 1965

Summary

In April 1965, an Air Force pilot reported a bright object observed for five minutes above New Orleans, Louisiana. The sighting occurred at an estimated altitude between 60,000 and 70,000 feet, with a calculated speed of 500 knots. The object moved northeast, changing course from 010 to 040 degrees magnetic before slowly disappearing from the observer's view. Despite the air-visual observation, there were no photographs or physical evidence.

The classified report suggests the phenomenon could have been caused by a high-altitude aircraft belonging to the Air Force, specifically a SAC (Strategic Air Command) conducting speed runs in the area. Although the object was not definitively identified, investigators concluded it was likely a conventional aircraft. The case was filed without further investigation, but it remains an interesting example of how UFO sightings were handled during the Cold War.