ufo_data/bin/pre_roswell_chap9.txt

348
1909                        New Haven, Connecticut. Phantom fliers refer to reports of seemingly ordinary airplanes behaving anomalously. Just a few years after the
                            Wright brothers' inaugural flight, when most air travels were low-altitude and nighttime flights were rare, mysterious high-flying planes
                            were spotted, especially during nighttime. On one Christmas Day, observers in New Haven reported a mysterious aircraft circling the
                            city at a great height. Its exact appearance, pilot, and mechanics remained unclear, but its distinct flight pattern set it apart from
                            known balloons or dirigibles. Though many had seen conventional planes, this sighting was unique. The aircraft was believed to be the same
                            one spotted over New England for several months. (Chapter 9, Ref 355)
349
1909                        Worcester, Massachusetts. A mysterious craft was observed at nighttime over Worcester, Massachusetts, with its silhouette resembling a
                            monoplane similar to those used by European aviators Latham and Bleriot. The craft, witnessed by many, flew as low as 100 feet and
                            rose up to 1,000 feet. Some observers reported seeing two men aboard, with one near a bright headlight and the other by a dimmer light. The
                            aircraft demonstrated speeds of up to 80 miles per hour and could remain stationary in the air for up to 15 minutes, a capability not
                            present in contemporary fixed-wing aircraft. (Chapter 9, Ref 356)
350
1909                        Worcester, Massachusetts. After mysterious aircraft sightings in New England, a Worcester man named Wallace E. Tillinghast came forward,
                            claiming he had invented and built an advanced aeroplane. This aircraft could carry three passengers up to a distance of 300 miles at
                            speeds of 120 miles an hour. Tillinghast's monoplane had a 72-foot wingspan, weighed 1,550 pounds, and was powered by a 120-horsepower
                            gasoline engine he designed. Unique features of his plane included its uncapsizable design, the placement of occupants on the machine's
                            body, and an acetylene gas headlight. Tillinghast kept many details secret, especially its location, as he intended to compete in
                            upcoming Boston aviation contests. He emphasized that his machine was no prototype and had been successfully tested at night. (Chapter 9, Ref 357)
351
1909                        Area of Worcester, New England. Conflicting reports surround Tillinghast's claimed aeroplane. A businessman stated he saw and sat in
                            Tillinghast's craft, describing it as a large boat-like aircraft with wings, powered by a 125-horsepower engine. Meanwhile, a journalist's
                            investigation led to a secluded estate connected to Paul B. Morgan, a known associate of Tillinghast. The journalist believed the estate's
                            large shed might house the mysterious aeroplane but was arrested before confirming this. Paul B. Morgan's past investment in a failed
                            Swedish aviator's project and his connection to Tillinghast further fueled speculations. Contrarily, Tillinghast's promise to showcase his
                            invention at an airshow fell flat when neither he nor his aircraft appeared. (Chapter 9, Refs 358, 359)
352
1910                        New York City, New York. In 1910, an unidentified aircraft made a nocturnal pass over Manhattan. A New York newspaper reported that a "long,
                            black object" with the sound of a motor was spotted flying at a low altitude. As it approached, it resembled a biplane and gracefully
                            circled around the illuminated Metropolitan Life Insurance Company tower, its silhouette visible against the building's window lights. (Chapter 9, Ref 360)
353
1914                        Welland Canal, Canada. In 1914, amidst the tensions of World War I, Canadians believed they were being surveyed from the sky, suspecting
                            German involvement. Despite the fact that no German aircraft could conduct a trans-Atlantic raid at that time, sightings persisted. A
                            newspaper from the Niagara area reported that Captain Scobell and his soldiers guarding the Welland Canal witnessed unidentified airships
                            with red lights flying over the city on multiple nights. One such aircraft even dropped a large rocket, which was later found by the
                            soldiers. On one occasion, an airship flew so close to the city that the soldiers could clearly see its framework. (Chapter 9, Ref 361)
354
1914                        Niagara Falls. A month after initial sightings, there were continued reports of a mysterious airship over Niagara Falls. These reports
                            caused concern among the locals, especially given the wartime environment. Military personnel were on high alert, watching for the
                            unidentified craft at night. In response to these sightings and the ongoing war, the Canadian government prohibited the use of
                            any aeroplanes, whether private or public. Despite this, many residents claimed to have heard the noise of an aircraft at night
                            and reported seeing lights moving across the sky, believed to be from the mysterious flying machine. (Chapter 9, Ref 362)
355
Early 1915                  Buffalo, New York. In early 1915, the mysterious aircraft was sighted during daylight over Buffalo, New York. Witnesses could clearly see
                            its outline, noting its rapid pace and its erratic movements, at times heading towards the Canadian shore before quickly changing
                            direction. This sighting caused a significant stir and excitement among local residents. (Chapter 9, Ref 363)
356
Jan. 1916                   Stamford, Canada. In January 1916, a Canadian newspaper reported a large monoplane sighting over Stamford. Many residents witnessed it,
                            especially with the aid of glasses, noting its significant size. The aircraft displayed numerous lights: red and white on each
                            side, totaling 27 lights, and also had a powerful headlight. Initially, it moved in the direction of the Welland Canal, but later
                            changed its path to head westward. (Chapter 9, Ref 364)
357
1916                        Canadian Capitol. During harsh Canadian winter nights, there were extraordinary sightings of unidentified aircraft, including at night. Due
                            to concerns over these mysterious intrusions, the Canadian government took preventive measures by extinguishing the lights of the
                            parliament buildings in Ottawa to deter potential enemy bombings. These precautions were deemed successful as Ottawa remained unbombed. (Chapter 9, Ref 365)
358
Mar. 1934                   Norway. During the 1930s, Scandinavia experienced a surge in "phantom flier" sightings, with numerous reports of unidentified aircraft,
                            often seen at night and in challenging winter conditions. While some of these incidents might have astronomical explanations, others
                            seemed to be intelligently-controlled objects. In one such incident from March 1934, a Norwegian teenager reported seeing a
                            fast-moving, elongated object with multiple lights of various colors, distinguishing it from stars and the northern lights. The object
                            was traveling southward at a high speed. (Chapter 9, Ref 366)
359
Jan. 1934                   At sea near Norway. The crew of a Norwegian freighter reported a close encounter with an unidentified aircraft at sea. An airplane suddenly
                            approached their vessel, flying very close before banking away. It then circled above the ship, illuminating the deck with a bright searchlight.
                            The aircraft was described as large, gray, and without any markings. The captain compared it to a plane used by polar explorer Roald
                            Amundsen, noting he could even see the pilot's goggles and hooded jacket. (Chapter 9, Ref 367)
360
1945                        Sweden. Phantom fliers frequently circled strategic installations and inspected them with searchlights. An air force general released a
                            statement confirming illegal air traffic over secret military areas, emphasizing that reliable witnesses made numerous reports. In all
                            cases, no insignias or identifying marks were visible on the aircraft. (Chapter 9, Ref 368)
361
1930's                      Scandinavia. Mystery aircraft engaged in dangerous maneuvers that were considered improbable for pilots of the time, such as flying in
                            blizzards at night and circling at very low altitudes with engines off. These aircraft were often described as being larger than known
                            planes of the period, with one sighting reporting eight propellers. When the Swedish air force launched a search mission involving 24
                            planes in response to these sightings, they found no trace of the phantom fliers. Instead, two of their own planes crashed due to
                            challenging conditions, while no reports emerged of the phantom fliers experiencing crashes or needing repairs throughout the
                            entire wave of sightings. (Chapter 9, Ref 369)
362
Mid 1940's                  Scandinavia. Following the Second World War, Scandinavia witnessed thousands of reports of missile-like objects, often termed
                            "ghost rockets," streaking across its skies, with some reportedly impacting the terrain. Concerned by the phenomenon, the U.S.
                            government discreetly sent aviation expert General James Doolittle to investigate, framing it as a business trip. (Chapter 9, Ref 370)
363
1946                        Sweden. In 1946, Sweden recorded over 1,000 ghost rocket sightings. A public report by the Swedish military attributed 80% of these
                            sightings to natural celestial phenomena, especially after public interest was piqued. However, some sightings remain unexplained.
                            Collaborations with astronomers suggested that some sightings, particularly those in July and August, were likely meteors or meteorites.
                            Despite efforts to determine the nature of these phenomena, including radar tracking, definite conclusions remained elusive. The debris
                            from supposed crash sites mostly consisted of coke or slag-like materials, and no evidence of any space projectile was found. (Chapter 9, Ref 371)
364
1946                        Britain. Approximate date. A secret British intelligence report analyzed visual observations from Scandinavia and highlighted the projectiles'
                            most notable characteristics: their great speed, intense associated light, silent operation, and approximately horizontal flight. The report
                            noted that if these phenomena are natural, they are unusual. (Chapter 9, Ref 372)
365
Jul. 1946                   Lake Mjosa, southeastern Norway. Several witnesses in July 1946 reported seeing an object resembling a German V-1 missile crash into Lake
                            Mjosa in southeastern Norway. It was described as cigar-shaped, about 8 feet in length, with wings and making a whistling noise. The object
                            appeared shiny at its front and rear, while its middle and wings were dark-colored. Some witnesses believed they saw two such objects. The
                            Norwegian military investigated the incident but did not disclose their findings. (Chapter 9, Ref 373)
366
Jul. 1946                   Lake Kolmjarv, northern Sweden. The day after an incident in Norway, a similar event was reported in Sweden, where an object crashed into
                            Lake Kolmjarv around noon. Eyewitnesses heard a humming sound and saw a rocket-like device diving towards the lake. The object had a
                            snub nose, a pointed stern, and possibly wing-like protrusions. It made a loud, unfamiliar noise while airborne and sounded like an
                            explosion upon impact with the water. A Swedish military unit investigated the site and reportedly found an impact crater at the bottom
                            of the lake but no remains of the object. (Chapter 9, Ref 374)
367
Jul. 1946                   Sweden. Approximate date. An American aviation magazine reported that an unidentified missile reportedly fell into a lake in Sweden. Authorities
                            promptly responded and conducted a search operation with around 600 military personnel. Witnesses claimed that heavy, concealed materials
                            were transported out of the area under the cover of darkness. The incident then seemingly faded from public discourse. (Chapter 9, Ref 375)
368
Aug. 1946                   Sweden. Approximate date. A Swedish scientist, while observing clouds through a telescope, spotted a luminous point on the horizon. Initially
                            mistaking it for an airplane, he soon realized its speed was too great. Within moments, he got a full view of the object, describing it
                            as torpedo-shaped, metallic, and approximately 90 feet long. Despite its proximity (about 1-1/4 miles away), the object made no sound. It
                            emitted an intense light when it exploded, but there were no visible signs of fire, smoke, or sparks. (Chapter 9, Ref 376)
369
Aug. 1946                   Sweden. A Swedish air force pilot reported seeing a dark, cigar-shaped object while flying over the central region of the country. As per
                            a declassified U.S. intelligence report, the object was around 50 feet above and roughly 6,500 feet away from the pilot, traveling at an
                            estimated 400 mph. Interestingly, the missile had no visible wings, rudders, or any other projecting parts and did not show any signs of
                            fuel exhaust. It maintained a constant altitude, even over varying terrain, which was considered unusual. This capability might have
                            seemed improbable then, but a Swedish defense expert later suggested that if the observations were accurate, the details could point to
                            some kind of advanced cruise missile, although no one had such sophisticated technology in that period. (Chapter 9, Refs 377, 378)
370
1946                        Peenemunde. Approximate date. The most widely accepted theory regarding ghost rockets is that they were V-2 rockets or possibly their
                            predecessor, the V-1 guided missile, similar to those used by Hitler during World War II. It was speculated that the Russians were
                            test-flying these from the former German rocket facility at Peenemunde on the Baltic coast. Though this theory was initially
                            dismissed by various governments, a once-classified memo to President Harry Truman from General Hoyt Vandenberg suggested otherwise.
                            The memo revealed that Peenemunde was operational and, based on Swedish radar data, most rocket launchings were traced back to
                            this area. Additionally, reports indicated that a Soviet ship was monitoring these missile passages, and there were warnings
                            against ship travel in parts of the Baltic. It was concluded that the USSR was likely conducting large-scale guided-missile tests
                            in the Baltic region, primarily for scientific purposes. The proximity of Peenemunde's manufacturing facilities, materials, and
                            expertise made it a logical choice for such activities over establishing new facilities in Russia. (Chapter 9, Ref 380)
371
Aug. 20, 1946               Near Dijon, France. "Huge, elongated projectiles passed overhead at prodigious speeds, emitting a whistling noise".
                            (Chapter 9, Ref 382)
372
Early Sep. 1946             Greece. In early September, the Greek government reported that flying rockets were observed over the northern part of Greece, with
                            one seen over Salonika falling into the sea. A total of four rockets were witnessed. (Chapter 9, Ref 383)
373
Mid Sep. 1946               Morocco. Ghost rockets were witnessed over Morocco on two consecutive nights in mid-September. One was observed over the town of
                            Fez, while another was seen near Tangier. Both projectiles appeared to fly at low altitudes from east to west, moving rapidly
                            and trailing a long tail of yellow and green light. (Chapter 9, Ref 384)
374
Late Sep. 1946              Dutch-German border. British troops in Germany reported seeing "spook bombs" over the Dutch-German frontier. These missiles,
                            resembling flying bombs, were observed moving rapidly from east to west. Similar reports were logged in Switzerland and Ireland around this time.
                            (Chapter 9, Refs 385, 386)
375
Mid Sep. 1946               Portugal. Officials at a Lisbon observatory could not explain reports from various parts of Portugal of bright, greenish balls of light
                            moving southwards, reminiscent of the ball of light variety of the later foo fighters. (Chapter 9, Ref 387)
376
1946                        Holland. Reports emerged of flying fireballs with glowing tails moving noiselessly at high speed during the night over the north and
                            east of Holland. (Chapter 9, Ref 388)
377
Late Sep. 1946              Belgium. In Belgium, police examined remnants of a projectile, described as a "ball of light," that fell outside a residence. The homeowner
                            reported seeing the object approach at "terrific speed" around midnight, and upon landing, it emitted a cloud of smoke. (Chapter 9, Ref 389)
378
1906                        Anadarko, Oklahoma. In 1906, near Anadarko, Oklahoma, five farm workers witnessed a peculiar aerial procession around dusk. The objects
                            resembled a 16-foot long stovepipe with a diameter of 9 or 10 inches. Initially, one object was seen flying around 60 feet high, but it
                            descended and flew by them at eye level. Another followed, identical in appearance. The men watched multiple such objects pass by for
                            nearly 20 minutes. (Chapter 9, Ref 390)
379
1907                        Burlington, Vermont. In 1907, in Burlington, Vermont, prominent citizens, including a clergyman, ex-Governor Moodbury, and Mr. A.A. Buell,
                            witnessed a remarkable aerial event. They were startled by a loud explosion and upon looking eastward, saw a torpedo-shaped object
                            suspended about 50 feet above the buildings, approximately 300 feet away. The object was around six feet long and eight inches in
                            diameter, with a dark shell from which red-hot, copper-like flames sporadically emerged. Initially stationary, the object began moving
                            southward over Dolan Brothers' store, emitting intense red flames from ruptures on its surface. It was surrounded by a dim halo of light
                            roughly 20 feet in diameter. The phenomenon left no noticeable odor or damage. The clergyman expressed a fervent hope to never witness
                            such an event again. (Chapter 9, Ref 391)