UFO seen in Waverly Iowa in 1957

Summary

In December 1957, a farmer in Iowa observed two round objects the size of basketballs, white in color, with a stream of fire trailing behind them. They moved one behind the other toward the south, disappearing halfway to the horizon. The witness, aged 51, observed the phenomenon for 45 seconds and described it clearly. Although initially considered as balloons or meteors, the most likely conclusion pointed to jet aircraft with afterburners. However, the data was insufficient for a definitive evaluation.

The Waverly Air Force Station forwarded the report to several air intelligence units, including the USAF. The responsible officer, 2nd Lt. Stanley Tanno, recorded possible coordinates and flight paths, but no conclusive explanation was found. This case, like many others from the era, reflects the confusion and lack of clear information surrounding UFO sightings in the 1950s.