UFO sighted over Fort Benning in 1965

Summary

An army officer observed a bright white, round object in the sky above Fort Benning, Georgia, in February 1965. The object glowed intensely, surpassing the brightness of the brightest stars, and ascended toward the northeast, leaving a white smoke trail about 10 miles wide. The observer estimated it was around 300 miles above the horizon and moving along the Earth's curvature. The trail remained visible for 30 minutes before dissipating. The duration and persistence of the trail were unusual, not typical of a meteor.

Researchers considered it could be a meteor or satellite decay. During that period, four fragments of Cosmos 57 had reentered the atmosphere, complicating identification. Despite uncertainties, a natural space phenomenon was not ruled out. The report was shared with meteor experts and the Air Force, seeking a scientific explanation.