Military1954

Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding says flying saucers are real

When: Jul 1954
Where: London, England
Sources: 2 public sources

Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding, wartime head of RAF Fighter Command Ministry of Information official photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Lord Dowding, who led RAF Fighter Command in the Battle of Britain, wrote in the Sunday Dispatch that he was convinced flying saucers existed and were not built by any nation on Earth. Historians say the statement worried the Air Ministry and drew ridicule.

Sources

OtherThe U.K. Government and UFOs (Julian J.A. Hennessey) (opens in a new tab)Sign Historical Group (Project 1947)
OtherChurchill's secret war with flying saucers (author manuscript, David Clarke) (opens in a new tab)Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive

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Where it fits

Earlier in MilitaryBrazilian Air Force intelligence chief lectures officers on flying saucers1954 Later in MilitaryRAF reserve pilot James Salandin reports near-collision with a disc over Essex14 Oct 1954

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