From the Project Blue Book report: “A report of a UFO was received from Mr. Dale F. Spaur, Badge #15, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Ravenna, Ohio., 17 Apr 66. Sighting between 0300 and 0600 hours. ‘First sighted in Ravenna, Ohio along Routes 224 – 44, followed object to Conway, Pa., for about 80 miles. Object seemed to be taking off from ground, oblong shaped, with antenna projecting from it. There were no colored lights only a very bright silvery radiance. Object flying about 500 feet over vehicle. It would slow down in speed and then go very fast. The glow from object was so bright it blinded driver of vehicle. Object was flying due east. This was witnessed by people along the route between Ravenna, Ohio and Conwoy, Pa. There were three (3) men from sheriff’s office and two (2) patrol cars that followed object along this route.’ After the report was received a call was made to the Airport Tower at Greater Pittsburg Airport. Nothing had been picked up on radar at the airport. The Air National Guard, also located at Greater Pittsburgh Airport had been called but not by this organization. F-102’s were not scrambled to follow the UFO. Mr. Tom Schley, Beaver County Times, called 0815 hours 18 Apr 66 requesting info on UFO. He mentioned that a photo of the UFO had been taken. Local news media publicized the fact that a photo of the UFO had also been taken but was not being released by the sheriff’s office but would be turned over to the Federal Government. Rochester Police and Conway Police were contacted by this office 18 Apr 66. No information concerning UFO was received. Any connection with sighting of UFO was denied.”
First Appearance UFO sighting/incident — April 17, 1966
First Publisher ○
Appearance List Project Blue Book Case File 1966-04-7104469: Ravenna–Mantua, Ohio (1966) by United States Air Force; “Kent Students Perpetrate Hoax? Claim They Built Portage UFO” (1966) by Daily Kent Stater; “UFOs—Greatest Scientific Problem of Our Times?” (1967) by James E. McDonald; The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry (1972) by J. Allen Hynek; The Hynek UFO Report (1977) by J. Allen Hynek. Film: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) by Steven Spielberg.
Sample Read Project Blue Book Case File 1966-04-7104469: Ravenna–Mantua, Ohio (1966) by United States Air Force [Internet Archive]
Description From the Project Blue Book report: “A report of a UFO was received from Mr. Dale F. Spaur, Badge #15, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Ravenna, Ohio., 17 Apr 66. Sighting between 0300 and 0600 hours. ‘First sighted in Ravenna, Ohio along Routes 224 – 44, followed object to Conway, Pa., for about 80 miles. Object seemed to be taking off from ground, oblong shaped, with antenna projecting from it. There were no colored lights only a very bright silvery radiance. Object flying about 500 feet over vehicle. It would slow down in speed and then go very fast. The glow from object was so bright it blinded driver of vehicle. Object was flying due east. This was witnessed by people along the route between Ravenna, Ohio and Conwoy, Pa. There were three (3) men from sheriff’s office and two (2) patrol cars that followed object along this route.’ After the report was received a call was made to the Airport Tower at Greater Pittsburg Airport. Nothing had been picked up on radar at the airport. The Air National Guard, also located at Greater Pittsburgh Airport had been called but not by this organization. F-102’s were not scrambled to follow the UFO. Mr. Tom Schley, Beaver County Times, called 0815 hours 18 Apr 66 requesting info on UFO. He mentioned that a photo of the UFO had been taken. Local news media publicized the fact that a photo of the UFO had also been taken but was not being released by the sheriff’s office but would be turned over to the Federal Government. Rochester Police and Conway Police were contacted by this office 18 Apr 66. No information concerning UFO was received. Any connection with sighting of UFO was denied.”
Clipping from Dayton Daily News (Wednesday, April 20, 1966) in Project Blue Book Case File 1966-04-7104469: Ravenna–Mantua, Ohio (1966-04-7104469-Ravenna-Mantua-Ohio.pdf)
