Cylindrical UFO seen in New Mexico in 1958

Summary

In October 1958, a missile engineer in New Mexico reported seeing a cigar-shaped object with a fan-shaped tail and lights resembling portholes. The initial report sparked interest, but it was soon clarified that the observer had mistaken the sun's reflection on the contrail of an F-106 aircraft. The investigation confirmed no unidentified object was present, just a common optical phenomenon. This case highlights how even professionals can misinterpret aerial events, especially under poor visibility conditions. The Air Force closed the file after verifying there was no evidence of a UFO.