UFO over Des Moines 1965

Summary

In August 1965, a 15-year-old boy in Des Moines, Iowa, observed an unidentified flying object for over two hours. The UFO appeared as a bright light that changed color and moved north with a slightly erratic course. Initially estimated at between 15,000 and 20,000 feet, it disappeared suddenly at around 8,000 feet. The report concluded it was not a known astronomical phenomenon like Antares or Arcturus, and there was no physical or photographic evidence. The description of the UFO was based on naked eye observation and later with binoculars.

The report details that the observer, a 15-year-old student, described a light that glowed in colors ranging from orange to green, without leaving a visible trail. The Air Force concluded it was not a weather balloon or a common atmospheric phenomenon. Despite the prolonged observation, the object could not be identified. The report was prepared by the 788th Radar Squadron in Waverly, Iowa, and no physical evidence was found to support the sighting. The case remains unresolved.