The Devon Flying Cross UFO (24 October 1967)
A Flying Cross Over Devon
At around 4:00 am on 24 October 1967, Police Constables Roger Willey and Clifford Waycott were patrolling the A3072 between Holsworthy and Okehampton, Devon, when they noticed an unusual bright object ahead of them.
This wasn’t just another mysterious light in the distance.
The officers later described the object as resembling a glowing cross or star, radiating brilliant white points of light in every direction. It appeared to be flying only just above the treetops and was completely silent.
The Pursuit
Curious, the officers drove towards it.
Instead of remaining stationary, the object appeared to move away, almost as though it were aware they were approaching.
For approximately 14 miles, the police car pursued the strange object through the Devon countryside.
During the chase:
- It travelled at roughly the same speed as the patrol car.
- When they accelerated, it accelerated.
- When they gained ground, it suddenly surged ahead.
- At one point it reportedly appeared to stop completely before moving off again.
- The pursuit reached speeds of 80–90 mph, yet the officers never managed to catch it.
One officer later remarked that it almost seemed as though the object was “playing a game” with them.
Not Just Two Witnesses
Clifford Waycott (above) and Roger Willey who reported the Flying Cross UFO in 1967. Photographed by the BBC IN 2004
The officers were not the only people to report unusual activity that morning.
A passing motorist also reported seeing the strange object, while other unusual aerial sightings were reported elsewhere across southern England during the same period.
The incident quickly attracted national newspaper attention and even reached Parliament, where MPs questioned the Ministry of Defence about what had happened in North Devon.
The sighting was serious enough to appear on the front page of the Times newspaper. Click on the image to be taken to a page with numerous press reports of the event.
The Official Explanation
The Ministry of Defence investigated numerous reports made during October 1967.
Officials concluded that many sightings made during that period were misidentifications of aircraft, stars or, most commonly, the bright planet Venus.
However, they also acknowledged that some reports could not be positively identified, while maintaining there was no evidence of anything extraterrestrial.
Could It Really Have Been Venus?
The Venus explanation has never convinced everyone.
This is what Venus looks like to the naked eye in the night sky. I find it very hard to believe that this is what they chased.
Supporters of the UFO interpretation point out that:
- Two trained police officers independently described the same object.
- The object appeared to fly at treetop height.
- It seemed to respond to the movement of their patrol car.
- It was reportedly observed for almost an hour.
- A second witness also reported seeing it.
Sceptics argue that under dark rural conditions, bright celestial objects can appear surprisingly low on the horizon, while a moving vehicle can create powerful optical illusions that make a distant light appear to pace a car.
Nearly sixty years later, no explanation has been universally accepted.
Evidence Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
This is one of Britain’s better-known police UFO encounters. The credibility of the witnesses and the length of the observation make it difficult to dismiss outright. However, the absence of physical evidence and the plausibility of some perceptual explanations mean the case remains unresolved rather than conclusive.
Richard’s Verdict
“What makes the Devon Flying Cross fascinating isn’t just what was seen—it’s who saw it. Two experienced police officers chased something they believed was moving intelligently through the Devon countryside. Whether it was an extraordinary atmospheric illusion or something genuinely unexplained, the case remains one of Britain’s most compelling police UFO encounters. Nearly sixty years later, we’re still left asking the same question: what were they really chasing, and I don’t for one second believe it was the planet Venus?”
Starting tomorrow, spooky shenanigans as we begin a weeks long look into the haunted locations within this spectred isle In Ghosts Week. Day 24 – Ben Alders Haunted Bothy
Suggested hashtags
#Paranormal365 #UFOWeek #DevonFlyingCross #DevonUFO #BritishUFOs #UFOMystery #PoliceWitness #Unexplained #UFOHistory #FavouriteHaunts #RichardKnapper #TheTruthMayBeStrangerThanTheStories
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