What was it? (colour litho)

What was it? On the sky of Rome a strange reddish body in the shape of a half cigar appeared evenings ago, leaving behind a smoky trail. He traveled at a reduced speed and no more than 1300 meters above sea level. Thousands of citizens have seen it, the stations of Ciampino airport have spotted it, the radar of the Pratica di Mare airport has intercepted it. The radar also ascertained that the mystery thing had an antenna sticking out at the point of maximum circumference. The competent rules out that it could be a meteorite. Illustration for Courier Sunday, 3 October 1954.