UFO in donut shape observed in Misawa, Japan

Summary

In July 1960, a ground observer in Misawa, Japan, spotted a luminous object resembling a white cloud at high altitude. The object was moving slowly from northwest to southeast, and after a few minutes, it expanded into a reddish-orange ball with flames shooting from the sides. Eventually, it took on a donut shape with a dark center. An amateur astronomer initially thought it was a spiral nebula, but this was soon dismissed. Witnesses agreed that the object moved in the direction of the wind and disappeared to the east.

The official assessment pointed to a weather balloon as the likely cause. It was suggested that the balloon reached an altitude high enough to explode, releasing water vapor illuminated by the moon (88% illuminated). The donut shape and flames were likely visual effects from the explosion. Although no photos were taken, witnesses confirmed the details, and after re-interviews, it was confirmed that only one object was visible, not multiple as initially thought.