UFO seen as chaff in New York in 1956

Summary

In December 1956, a witness in Ridgewood, New York, observed a pearly white, disk-shaped object falling vertically from the vapor trails of a jet aircraft being intercepted by fighter planes. The object was seen for between half a second and five seconds, and the official report classified it as chaff, a substance used to confuse radars. The observer, a 42-year-old teacher, described the event in detail, though no photos were taken. Weather conditions were clear, with 15 miles visibility and variable winds.

The initial investigation considered it could be a weather balloon due to its appearance, but data from the area indicated a B-47 had been dropping chaff while being intercepted by fighters. Despite attempts to gather more information, confirmation was not possible. The case was closed as an air defense-related event, but it remains an interesting example of how aerial phenomena were interpreted during the Cold War.