Single star like light zigging and zagging in night sky

It was summer time, probably late August, the time frame was 1958,59 or 60.  I was not yet ten.  It was dark out so it had to be past 9 pm.  Our Uncle was sitting outside on a swing and a bunch of us kids were hanging out talking to our Uncle... a very traditional man.  He was looking up at the sky.  And he remarked...now that is strange.  He pointed out to us a light high in the sky (like 12 or 11 o'clock) near a cluster of stars.  We all watched it for quite a while and we all saw it.  It looked like a star but it moved.  What was interesting was my Uncle's comment.  It had to be after the launch of Sputnik. Because our Uncle  was aware of how a satellite would move in a path across.  I remember him articulating: a satellite would be a light that would move across the sky in a non-veering path.  But this light zig zagged and stopped.  Then it would move again and stop. Move again in what appeared to be an un-organized pattern.nothing like a satellite.  Anyway.! ..I think about that sighting often. Our Uncle took the time to make sure each one of us was able to find it in the sky and we all watched it for at least 15minutes when it suddenly streaked across the sky and disappeared.  I remember when the light suddenly zipped and disappeared there was an audible "wow" from all of us.  
That is the only time in my life I have seen something unexplained in the sky.  I was not alone.  My sister and cousins and Uncle were all there
Witness indicates that the date of the sighting is approximate.  PD