Devon 'flying cross' police chase
- Date
- 24 Oct 1967
- Place
- Near Holsworthy, north Devon, England, United Kingdom
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Explained
- Evidence strength
What was reported
At about 4 a.m. on 24 October 1967 two Devon constables, Roger Willey and Clifford Waycott, saw a light they described as 'a star-spangled cross radiating points of light' at treetop height and chased it along country lanes for about twelve miles at up to 90 mph; they said it kept ahead of them and later appeared alongside a second similar object. The case made the front page of The Times during a national wave of reports and entered Ministry of Defence files. The Ministry and, independently, the British Astronomical Association concluded the officers had seen Venus, low in the morning sky, with the apparent motion produced by the moving car.
What officials concluded
Resolved
Venus (Ministry of Defence; British Astronomical Association)
Strongest ordinary reading
Venus seen low before dawn from a moving car
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- No: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- Yes: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- Yes: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- The Times, 24 October 1967 (transcription)ufologie.patrickgross.org
- Metabunk: Devon flying cross of 1967metabunk.org
On the map
50.81° N, 4.35° W, plotted at the town or city
Show on the map