Cylindrical UFO sighted in Riga in 1958

Summary

A USAF officer recorded a sighting of an unidentified object in Riga, USSR, during the early morning of July 24, 1958. The witness, a streetcar driver, saw a shiny cylindrical object with bluish-gray exhaust fumes at its end, moving from northeast to southwest. The object appeared self-illuminated, though no clear light source was visible. The witness heard no sound, and the object was visible for only a few seconds before disappearing behind buildings. The observation was made without aids and under a bright moonlit sky.

The report suggested the object might be a meteor, as its duration and distance were consistent with an astronomical event. However, the apparent self-illumination added an unusual element. The report also noted there were no publications or rumors about the sighting, which was unusual for such an event. The witness showed no further interest in the incident, raising some doubts about his reliability. Despite this, the report did not rule out the possibility of an unknown object.