Giant bird-shaped UFO sighted in Illinois in 1948

Summary

In April 1948, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel reported seeing a flying object that resembled a giant bird. The incident occurred at 23:30, four miles north of Alton, Illinois. The observer, a retired colonel, described the object as larger than an airplane and shaped like a bird. Although no photographs were taken and details such as speed or altitude were not recorded, the officer stated he was sure it was not an aircraft. Other accounts, including that of a 12-year-old boy, mentioned similar sightings months earlier. However, the lack of concrete evidence and the inability to verify the colonel’s testimony made it difficult to assess the case.

The official evaluation concluded there were no astronomical elements in the incident and suggested it could have been an animal, though the possibility of an unidentified object was not ruled out. The report includes references to similar cases and is part of Project 10073, a U.S. Air Force initiative to investigate UFO sightings. Despite the credibility of the witness, no further investigation was conducted, leaving the case unresolved.