Fairfield, IowaSeptember 1962

On a September night in 1962 near Fairfield, Iowa, an observer saw a bright light in the eastern sky that caught their attention. The object appeared brighter and larger than the stars, with a solid, yellowish, and oblong shape. It moved across the sky toward the south before making a startling maneuver: it suddenly climbed at tremendous speed, fading as it went higher and higher into the distance. The observer noted that the object initially looked like an airplane, but then it suddenly shifted and became all light. Most striking was the complete silence, with no sound accompanying the sighting. The entire observation lasted about three to four minutes.

An Air Force official who reviewed the case suggested that the sighting was probably an aircraft, specifically a jet with its afterburner turned on and climbing. The official noted that such a maneuver would give an identical appearance to what the observer had described. This explanation accounts for the bright yellowish light, the sudden acceleration, and the upward trajectory. The witness questionnaire and supporting materials in the file show that a thorough report was filed, though the formal conclusion reached by the Air Force remains limited in its explanation.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives, consisting of 13 pages.