White UFO with tail over Ohio in 1949

Summary

A U.S. Air Force pilot reported an unidentified flying object in February 1949 near Dayton, Ohio. At 20:32, while flying at around 7,900 feet, he observed a bright white light with a tail extending five times its length. The object, larger than a star, was moving in a direction between 90° and 100°, maintaining a straight path while slowly descending. The pilot described the object as having a brilliance similar to a welding torch and noted it produced no sound or odor.

The UFO remained visible for five seconds before breaking into two pieces. The first vanished immediately, while the second fragmented into clusters that dispersed and faded. The pilot, deemed completely reliable, observed the phenomenon through his aircraft's windshield. Weather conditions were clear with good visibility and a bright moon. Although no physical evidence was found, the pilot's detailed account adds intrigue to this unusual case from the 1940s.