UFO seen in Alaska resembling rockets

Summary

A 1956 report describes an object observed in Elmendorf, Alaska, that appeared to resemble rocket exhaust. The witness, a control tower operator with seven years of experience, saw a luminous object in orange-yellow to white color, moving rapidly from east to west. The observation lasted between 2 and 3 seconds, and no visible body was seen, only a bright trail. Although the possibility of a weather balloon or aircraft was considered, the data did not allow a clear evaluation.

The final conclusion suggested the object might have been a meteor entering the atmosphere. The rapid movement and trajectory parallel to the horizon made it hard to identify as an artificial object. The report also mentioned that the witness had observed a similar phenomenon hours earlier, but with the opposite direction. Despite the brief observation, the witness was considered fully reliable, and no other objects were reported in the area.