Project Blue Book case file (combined PDF)

# FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

NARRATIVE REPORT AND ASSESSMENT

UFO, 3 AUGUST 1965, SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA

1. The following is based upon investigation conducted personally by the Investigating Officer and from comments obtained from U.S. Marine Corps investigators and various press representatives, and includes a "guesstimate" of the chronological evidence involving the UFO sighting and the interplay of activities involving news media, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, and other unconfirmed agencies and officials.

2. At approximately 1130 hours PDT on 3 August 1965, Mr Rex E Heflin was driving SSW on Myford Road to check out a matter (not identified) pertaining to his job for the Orange County Road Department. After checking the item he turned his vehicle (Ford "van bus") around and began to head NNE, still on Myford Road. He was still traveling at only a few MPH (three to ten) when he first observed something out of the corner of his eye, out of the left side window of the vehicle. At first he assumed that it was a helicopter until the object was almost directly in front of his vehicle. Because of the unusual shape of the object, Mr Heflin quickly stopped the vehicle and grabbed the Polaroid camera which was on the front seat (SOP for traffic investigators), and took one picture of the object through the windshield. (NOTE: Marine Corps investigators determined that the object was at a bearing of $ 1 0^{\circ} $ magnetic at the time the photograph was taken.) The UFO continued on an ESE course at slow speed. Mr Heflin was able to take two additional photographs of the UFO through the left door window of his vehicle. (NOTE: Marine Corps investigators estimate that the bearing of the UFO in picture nr 2 was about $ 9 0^{\circ} $ magnetic, and that the bearing of the UFO in picture nr 3 was about $ 7 0^{\circ} $ magnetic.) This would indicate that picture nr 3 was taken after the UFO had changed course to a NE heading.

3. Mr Heflin's comment to the Investigating Officer varied somewhat from those given to the Marine Corps investigator. However, it is believed that the undersigned conducted a more thorough investigation and that Mr Heflin's comments which are noted below are essentially correct. Mr Heflin stated that he had attempted to use his two-way radio once or twice just before he sighted the UFO and could neither transmit nor receive any signal although the radio panel lights indicated that the radio was operational. Detailed questioning indicated that this definitely occurred before the UFO sighting and not during the UFO sighting. Mr Heflin stated that after the UFO had disappeared that he attempted to use his radio and found that it was working normally. He also stated that he had not had any other radio malfunctions in the preceding weeks.