UFO sighted by pilot during flight over England

Summary

In April 1955, a pilot on a flight over Burtonwood, England, observed a bright round object with a luminous exhaust and sparks. The sighting lasted between 1 and 3 seconds, and the pilot estimated the object was traveling at a speed far exceeding any known aircraft. The report classifies the incident as an astronomical meteor, though other possibilities are not ruled out. The pilot observed the object from the left side of the cockpit, describing a horizontal movement that carried it from the side of the aircraft to its tail in an arc of 55 degrees. The detailed description of the object and its trajectory suggests a serious and well-documented observation.

The report includes multiple copies and transmissions to various military and intelligence units, indicating the significance given to the case. Although a meteor was considered, other explanations were not dismissed. The pilot, Captain Stephen D. DeTurf, provided a precise account, though no other crew members were in a position to witness the object. The aircraft had been diverted due to adverse weather conditions, adding context to the observation. The case was filed with the conclusion that the object was a meteor, but the nature of the sighting remains intriguing for researchers of unidentified aerial phenomena.