UFO sighted in Louisiana in 1962

Summary

In May 1962, several witnesses in Louisiana reported seeing an unidentified flying object (UFO) near England Air Force Base. The object was described as a fireball with a cigar shape, larger than a basketball, brighter than the brightest star, and white or amber in color. The witnesses included members of the state police and sheriff's office, who observed the object for a few minutes. Some reported that the object was moving northwest, while others said it was moving in the same direction as it was originally seen. The atmosphere had a thermal inversion, which could have caused an optical distortion, and it was considered that the object could have been an aircraft or a balloon. However, investigators concluded that it was likely an astronomical phenomenon or an optical illusion caused by the atmosphere.