Cyril George Townsend-Withers

Cyril George Townsend-Withers was a British Principal Scientific Officer for the Air Ministry. In June 1953, he witnessed a close encounter of the first kind (CE1) on Salisbury Plain, England, involving an unidentified flying object. He later inquired about UFOs and was informed by authorities that they were largely misperceptions posing no defense interest. His testimony provides early insight into UK government attitudes toward UFO reports during the 1950s, highlighting official skepticism.