UFO sighted in San Luis Obispo in 1966

Summary

In August 1966, three witnesses in San Luis Obispo, California, reported seeing round, whitish lights with a small red light at the bottom. The objects were aligned one behind the other and moved in a straight line before disappearing. No tail, trail, or exhaust was observed, but investigators concluded it was likely an aircraft seen through fog. One witness was an aviation engineer with extensive experience, adding credibility to the report. Another, less familiar with aircraft, thought it might be a weather balloon.

The report also noted that a large experimental balloon, launched from Holloman AFB in New Mexico, had been lost near Taft, California, a few days earlier. Although no physical evidence was found, investigators considered the balloon a possible explanation. Confusion between common aerial objects and unusual phenomena was common at the time, and this case was no exception. The lack of sound and the object's unusual appearance led to a careful evaluation, but ultimately it was attributed to an aircraft or balloon under specific weather conditions.