White UFO sighted in Atlantic, Iowa in 1956

Summary

A white object was sighted in Atlantic, Iowa on August 13, 1956. A civilian witness described a bright object, the size of a nail seen at a distance. It appeared suddenly in the sky with a warning sound and was observed for about 45 seconds to a minute before disappearing behind clouds, heading south.

Although no photos or radar data were taken, the report concluded it was "possibly an aircraft". The duration of the sighting and the way it disappeared support this interpretation. However, other possibilities such as a balloon or astronomical phenomenon were not ruled out, though considered less likely.