Lexington, KentuckyAugust 1958

On August 26, 1958, in Lexington, Kentucky, witnesses spotted a cigar-shaped object with a copper color at 6:15 p.m. local time. The sighting lasted about 30 minutes, and two objects were reported. According to the witness questionnaire, the object was visible in daylight. When first sighted, it appeared at a bearing of 260 degrees from true north at an elevation of 68 degrees above the horizon. When it disappeared, it was at 260 degrees from true north and 62 degrees above the horizon. Observers described the object as roughly 50 feet long with a copper or reddish-orange color, resembling a cigar shape.

The object's motion was tracked during the sighting. It moved at a constant rate of 33 degrees per minute and covered an arc lasting two and a half minutes before vanishing from view. The witnesses indicated the edges of the object were clearly outlined. One observer reported hearing no sound from the object, and there was no evidence of smoke or exhaust trails.

The Air Force investigated the case and consulted weather data from the region. The file notes possible balloon sightings, though the copper color and other characteristics made the data inconclusive. The official evaluation listed the sighting as one with insufficient data for a definitive conclusion (a catch-all category used when evidence did not support any single explanation). An intelligence officer suggested the possible source might be aircraft exhaust glow, but this assessment remained speculative.

The full case file, including witness statements, weather analysis, and investigative notes, is reproduced below as held by the National Archives across 13 pages.