#ThrowbackThursday: Oklahomans shaken by UFO sightings in 1965

Oklahoma City police officer Richard Boyd holds a small parachute with a flare attached in 1965. For at three straight days, the front pages of The Daily Oklahoman reported numerous sightings of unidentified flying objects across the state, parts of the nation and South America. Residents were shaken by what they had seen in the sky: colorful flashing lights, a kite shaped object, striped and glowing triangular object, flying saucers, a floating white globe. "People are upset. They want to know what they are, and we can't tell them," an Oklahoma City police dispatcher said. Some officials proposed the numerous UFO sightings, many at high altitudes, might have been caused by meteors, a bright evening star, balloons, optical illusions and atmospheric conditions. Amid the ongoing calls to police, Boyd recovered the small parachute after it was seen floating down near SE 53 and Shields.

We run a #Throwback image each week, showcasing Oklahoma’s history. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @TheOklahoman_ and “Like” us at Facebook.com/TheOklahoman for more historical photos.

— Linda Lynn, news research editor

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: #ThrowbackThursday: Oklahomans shaken by UFO sightings in 1965