CASE HISTORY

I Was Ordered to Shoot Down a UFO

The story of a Fighter Pilot Tasked with an Incredible Mission

The 1950s were a tense period in history, defined by the Cold War and the looming threat of nuclear conflict. Both the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in intense technological advancements, including the development of high-speed aircraft and missile defense systems. At the same time, reports of UFOs surged, with both military personnel and civilians witnessing aerial phenomena across the world.

In this state of heightened alert, pilots were frequently scrambled to investigate unidentified radar contacts, many of which turned out to be misidentified aircraft, weather balloons, or atmospheric anomalies. However, some encounters defied explanation. And the mission Milton Torres was tasked with would by one of those such cases.

The Incident

On the evening of May 20th, 1957, First Lieutenant Milton Torres was stationed at RAF Manston, an airbase in Kent, England. At approximately 11:00 PM, he received a sudden and urgent order to scramble his F-86D Sabre fighter jet and intercept an unknown radar contact. The target had been detected flying over East Anglia and exhibited unusual behavior.