UFO sighted in Apache Junction with falling lights

Summary

In March 1967, a retired U.S. Army observer reported a UFO in Apache Junction, Iowa. The object was round, about the size of a nickel, and emitted a bright yellowish light. The witness described how the object moved south, then east, dropping pieces of fire to the ground. The UFO disappeared after about ten minutes, continuing its path. The weather conditions were clear, with a full moon and starry skies, making the observation possible.

The official explanation suggested homemade hot air balloons made by children using candles, plastic, and laundry bags. This kind of activity had been previously recorded in the area and was considered a possible cause for the sightings. However, a second sighting near Scottsdale, Arizona, complicated this explanation. There, another witness, a student, described a similar object, though larger, also dropping pieces of fire and emitting a high-pitched fluctuating hum. This second sighting lasted 20 minutes, with the object moving northeast before disappearing.