Reddish-orange ball seen over Lakewood

Summary

In September 1967, a civilian in Lakewood, Colorado, reported seeing an object described as a large red or orange ball. The object was observed for about 30 seconds and moved in a south-southeast direction before stopping. Although the witness did not take photos or leave physical evidence, the sighting was officially documented. The Air Force concluded that the object was most likely a plastic balloon with candles for lift, a known item released in the area at that time.

Lowry Air Force Base analyzed the report and shared it with other institutions, including the University of Colorado and the Air Defense Command. Despite the conventional explanation, the case remains intriguing due to the detailed description and the context of other sightings in the region. This document is part of a series of UFO reports that help understand how such cases were handled in the 1960s.