1968: Redlands Sighting

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THINK ABOUTIT SIGHTING REPORT

Date: February 4, 1968              BBU

Sighting Time: approximately 7:20 to 7:25 P.M.

Day/Night: Night

Location:  Redlands, California

Urban or Rural: -Urban

Hynek Classification: DD (Daylight Disc) Metallic or whitish object was seen in the day.

Duration: less than five minutes

No. of Object(s): 1

Height & Speed: 300 feet altitude

Size of Object(s): around 50 feet in diameter.

Distance to Object(s):

Shape of Object(s): Disc

Color of Object(s):

Number of Witnesses: Multiple

Source:  APRO / Ronald Story, 1980 / NICAP website (nicap.org)         

Summary/Description: On February 4, 1968, about two hundred residents of Redlands, California, either saw or heard what was apparently the same huge, low-flying, disk-shaped object as it passed overhead. A minister conducting services in a church in Redlands was recording his sermon at the time and obtained a recording of the sound, which many people present described as a high-pitched, modulated whining sound. 

Full Report

The artist’s conception (see accompanying illustration) was based on a series of interviews with witnesses by Professor Brownfield. His composite painting was verified by witnesses. The composite painting was obtained from witnesses seeing the object at different angles. Therefore composite is probably a very accurate representation of the object.

On February 4, 1968, from approximately 7:20 to 7:25 P.M., about two hundred residents of Redlands, California, either saw or heard what was apparently the same huge, low-flying, disk-shaped object as it passed overhead. A minister conducting services in a church in Redlands was recording his sermon at the time and obtained a recording of the sound, which many people present described as a high-pitched, modulated whining sound much like that of the “FLYING SAUCER” seen on TV program, “The Invaders.” An investigation was conducted for the AERIAL PHENOMENA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION by four University of Redlands professors: Dr. Philip Seff (geology), Dr. Judson Sanderson (mathematics), Dr. Reinhold Krantz (chemistry), and John Brownfield (art). The following information was obtained by them:

The object apparently came down just west of Columbia Street and north of Colton Avenue, then proceeded slowly in a northwestern direction for about a mile or less, at an altitude of about 300 feet. Coming to a stop, it hovered briefly, jerked forward, hovered again, then shot straight up with a burst of speed. (Total time of the sighting must have been less than five minutes).

The object’s size and altitude were estimated by Dr. Sanderson. The object seemed (if at 300 feet altitude) to be around 50 feet in diameter.

The artist’s conception (see accompanying illustration) was based on a series of interviews with witnesses by Professor Brownfield. His composite painting was verified by witnesses. The lights on the base appeared to expel jets of bright orange flame and were seven in number. The light on the top (eight to ten in a row) were alternating in color (red and green), giving the impression that the object was rotating.

The object was not detected in RADAR, by the nearby Norton air Force Base, but a USAF spokesman admitted that their radar was not the type that would have spotted it anyway. The closest radar that might have detected the object was a March Air Force Base near Riverside, but a range of mountains stands between Redlands and the location of the base.

Professor Philip Seff, who headed the investigative team, reached the following conclusions:

The object sighted can be attributed to no known type of aircraft. Since the atmosphere was clear and the object was low, witnesses obtained a clear view; also, no known aircraft was over Redlands at that time.
As far as is known, the object cannot be attributed to any known natural phenomenon.

The sound heard was that of the emergency rescue vehicle. In the excitement of seeing a UFO, witnesses naturally assumed that it was coming from the object overhead.

The composite painting was obtained from witnesses seeing the object at different angles. Therefore composite is probably a very accurate representation of the object.