Shiny round UFO seen over New Mexico in 1952

Summary

In May 1952, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant and his wife spotted a round, shiny object while driving along U.S. Highway 66 near Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The object hovered motionless in the sky for about two minutes before vanishing rapidly to the southeast. Despite its high altitude, it was clearly visible without leaving a trail or making noise. Weather conditions were clear, with 60 miles of visibility and scattered cumulus clouds. The observers could not identify it as a balloon, aircraft, or astronomical phenomenon.

The official evaluation labeled it "possibly a balloon," but the lack of definitive evidence left room for uncertainty. The report was shared with multiple Air Force intelligence units, though no further action was taken. The case remains an example of an unexplained sighting from the early days of the UFO investigations. The document was classified and tightly controlled for years.