Unidentified flying object seen by pilot in Missouri in 1953

Summary

In February 1953, a U.S. Air Force pilot observed an object emitting changing colors of light for one hour. The aircraft, a C-47, was flying near Vichy, Missouri, at an altitude of 7,000 feet. The object appeared as a light that varied in intensity and changed color from red, through amber to green. The pilot and crew confirmed the sighting, but no other aircraft or physical evidence were found.

The official conclusion was that the phenomenon was related to the planet Venus, although the pilot insisted the object behaved unusually, accelerating and performing unexpected maneuvers. Despite contacting the local control tower and using radar, the object could not be identified. The report highlights the reliability of the witness and the inability to explain the phenomenon with conventional objects.