UFO identified as parachute flare at Plattsburgh

Summary

In August 1960, a witness at Plattsburgh AFB, New York, saw a white smoke trail suddenly appear in the sky. The trail moved straight for five seconds and then dissipated in fifteen. The observer, experienced with aerial rockets, initially thought it was one. However, the investigation confirmed it was a parachute flare launched during an aquatic survival demonstration. The flare ascended to about 1200-1500 feet and produced a white smoke trail that twisted due to the flare's swinging motion.

The airbase confirmed no scheduled firings, but upon investigating the area, it was found that the flare had been used as part of training. Although the observer did not see the parachute due to distance, the horizontal movement of the trail was explained by the viewing angle and the parachute's drift. The report concluded no further investigation was needed, as the phenomenon had a conventional explanation.