‘The end of time’: 1957 sonic boom over Lexington brought chaos

Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.

It was a boom that rattled houses and shook up the residents inside when a bomber broke the sound barrier over Lexington in 1957.

On July 27, 1957, a B58 Hustler bomber left Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio around 11:45. By noon, it was over Lexington, traveling 145 miles in 15 minutes…

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