On 13 Oct 47, at approx 5:30 a.m., Judge Hensley in the company of O. D. Bates were travelling via a closed car north on highway to Winnetka about 14 miles north of Desplaines. They had not yet broken. Sky to the northwest clear with stars visible. Object first observed traveling from west to east. When first noticed it was about the size of a large grapefruit which increased in size to that of a large football. Object in view approx 3 seconds and moved eastward horizontally to the earth at meteoric speed. At first thought to be aircraft's light but it kept getting closer to earth. Slightly west of due north at estimated elevation 10° it exploded throwing a brilliant reddish tinged cone of fire forward & downward. No noise heard. At the time of the explosion, Mr Bates commented to Judge Hensley that there must have been terrific heat from the object to give it such a bluish tinge. No tail on the object. When it exploded fragments were thrown forward & downward giving off bluish light.
NOTE: A group consisting of Mr. A. K. Wickham, Mr. W.E. Morley (graduate of the GTF jet propulsion course) both of the Guided Missile Section of the Defense Research Board, Lt Col W. B. Wilment, AEMO 1/Wright Fld and Dr. J. K. Rouslen gazed the object to be a meteor in that the 10° elevation at first seen seen together with terrific speed observed would place the object in the stratosphere to be seen by the several groups who witnessed the phenomena.