The Burlington Torpedo UFO

In the summer of 1907, the city of Burlington, Vermont, was treated to an extraordinary aerial display. Multiple witnesses, including Bishop John Michaud of the Catholic Diocese and former Governor Alexander Woodbury, observed a torpedo-shaped object in the sky. The craft appeared to “explode” before hovering in place and then departing at tremendous speed. The credibility of the witnesses and the unusual behavior of the object make this one of the most significant pre-aviation era UFO sightings.

The Sighting

Time and Location

The encounter occurred:

• Date: Summer 1907
• Location: Burlington, Vermont
• Time: Daylight hours
• Weather: Clear enough for observation
• Visibility: Good

The Witnesses

Multiple observers included:

• Bishop John Michaud (Catholic Diocese)
• Former Governor Alexander Woodbury
• Additional Burlington residents
• Mix of prominent and ordinary citizens
• All observing same phenomenon

The Object

Physical Description

Witnesses reported:

• Torpedo-shaped craft
• Distinct, structured appearance
• Not a natural phenomenon
• Clearly artificial
• Significant size

The “Explosion”

Unusual behavior observed:

• Object appeared to “explode”
• Visual effect in sky
• No debris fell
• Object remained intact
• May have been energy discharge

Post-”Explosion” Behavior

After the visual event:

• Object began hovering
• Stationary in sky
• Controlled position
• Defied gravity
• Demonstrated intelligence

Departure

The exit:

• Departed at great speed
• Rapid acceleration
• Disappeared from view
• No sound reported
• Extraordinary velocity

The Witnesses

Bishop John Michaud

A credible observer:

• Bishop of Burlington Diocese
• Prominent religious figure
• Educated, intelligent
• No motive to fabricate
• Reputation at stake

Former Governor Alexander Woodbury

Political credibility:

• Former Vermont Governor
• Public figure
• Well-respected
• Experienced observer
• Reliable witness

Significance of Witnesses

Their testimony matters because:

• High social standing
• Nothing to gain from claims
• Everything to lose from ridicule
• Corroborated each other
• Observed same phenomenon

Analysis

The “Explosion” Question

What might they have seen:

• Energy discharge?
• Shape change?
• Separation into parts?
• Optical effect?
• Unknown phenomenon?

Hovering Capability

In 1907, nothing could hover:

• No helicopters existed
• No VTOL technology
• Balloons couldn’t hold position in wind
• Hovering required unknown tech
• Defied all known physics

High-Speed Departure

The acceleration reported:

• Beyond any 1907 technology
• No aircraft could achieve it
• Suggested advanced propulsion
• Instant acceleration
• No visible propulsion system

Historical Context

1907 Aviation

State of flight:

• Wright Brothers flew 1903
• Aircraft primitive
• No powered flight in Vermont
• Nothing torpedo-shaped flying
• No hovering capability

Vermont Setting

The location:

• Small state capital
• Educated population
• Religious community
• Conservative witnesses
• Not prone to exaggeration

Possible Explanations

Conventional

Could it have been:

• Balloon? (couldn’t hover or accelerate)
• Early aircraft? (wrong shape, couldn’t hover)
• Meteor? (couldn’t hover or stop)
• Weather phenomenon? (too structured)

Unconventional

Alternative theories:

• Genuine UFO/UAP
• Unknown natural phenomenon
• Experimental craft (who built it?)
• Something beyond explanation

The Legacy

Pre-Aviation Mystery

This case represents:

• High-credibility witnesses
• Detailed observation
• Impossible technology
• No explanation
• Part of larger pattern

Recurring Elements

Features seen in later reports:

• Torpedo/cigar shape
• Hovering capability
• Rapid acceleration
• Energy effects
• Multiple witnesses

The Question

In the summer of 1907, a Catholic Bishop and a former Governor looked up at the Vermont sky and saw something impossible.

A torpedo-shaped object. Hovering. Then accelerating away at speeds nothing on Earth could match.

These weren’t attention-seekers. They weren’t drunks. They weren’t tabloid reporters looking for a story.

They were two of the most respected men in Vermont.

And they saw the same thing.

The object appeared to “explode” - but didn’t fall. It hovered - but no balloon could do that. It accelerated away - but nothing in 1907 could move that fast.

Bishop Michaud saw it. Governor Woodbury saw it. Others saw it too.

And none of them could explain it.

The Burlington Torpedo UFO of 1907 remains one of the most credible sightings of the pre-aviation era.

Not because the evidence was perfect.

But because the witnesses were.

A Bishop. A Governor. Watching something impossible cross the Vermont sky.

We still don’t know what they saw.

But we know they saw something.

And we know that something defied every known law of physics and every known technology of their time.

The Burlington Torpedo UFO.

Witnessed by the most credible observers imaginable.

Explained by no one.

Then or now.