Case file · Sighting
Lemos Ferreira F-84 sighting, Portugal
A future Portuguese Air Force chief led a formation of F-84 jets that watched a bright, colour-changing light and smaller objects for about 40 minutes.
1957 CE · 39.00, -8.80 · status: account
The account
On the night of 4 September 1957 Captain José Lemos Ferreira and three other pilots on a training flight north of Lisbon reported a light that pulsed and changed colour, then released smaller objects that seemed to approach the formation. Lemos Ferreira, who later became Chief of Staff of the Air Force, spoke about it publicly until his death.
The sceptical view
Astronomical or satellite explanations have been suggested, but with no instrument data the case rests on the pilots' description.