UFO seen as meteor in Illinois 1961

Summary

In November 1961, an observer at Scott AFB, Illinois, reported a luminous phenomenon that began with a yellow flash and transformed into a blue-green streak that expanded into a pie-shaped segment. The object moved northward along a smooth trajectory and lasted about one second. Although initially considered a plane or balloon, later analysis suggested it was likely a bright meteor, known as a bolide. The description of color, disintegration, and movement pattern matched typical meteor characteristics.

The air base received a call from St. Clair County sheriff, who had been contacted by Jefferson County. A farmer living 12 miles north of Mt Vernon claimed a plane flew over his house and dropped a flare. However, no formal investigation was conducted, and no military aircraft were confirmed to be flying in the area at the reported times. Ultimately, officials concluded it was likely a meteor, ruling out other conventional explanations.