1916: British A/c Encounters Object

THINK ABOUTIT SIGHTING REPORT

Date: January 31, 1916

Sighting Time: 8:25 p.m.

Day/Night: Night

Location: Rochford, Essex, England

Urban or Rural: Rural

Hynek Classification: NL (Nocturnal Light) Point or extended luminous source observed at night.

Duration: 20 mins

No. of Object(s): 1

Size of Object(s):

Distance to Object(s):

Shape of Object(s): linear object with a row of lights like the windows on a railway carriage with the blinds drawn.

Color of Object(s):

Number of Witnesses: 1

Source:

Summary: a UK pilot near Rochford reported a row of lights, like lighted windows on a railway carriage, that rose and disappeared. 

Full Report 

Fran Ridge: Jan. 31, 1916; Rochford; UK

Night. A British flight officer flying at 5,000 feet encountered a dark object with a row of illuminated windows. When he tried to close in for a better look his engine began malfunctioning, perhaps the first EM effect case on a human vehicle. This incident is the very first entry on the NICAP DBase for Category 11, Sightings From Aircraft. Mike Swords found additional information on the UFODNA site.

NARCAP:

One of the three oldest known pilot UFO sightings, of 1305 cataloged by NARCAP. On January 31, 1916, a UK pilot near Rochford reported a row of lights, like lighted windows on a railway carriage, that rose and disappeared.

Mike Swords:

8:25 p.m. Royal Flying Corps pilot Lt. Morgan was flying at 5000 feet over Rochford, Essex, England on this evening on the lookout for Zeppelins. At 8:25 p.m. he saw an object with a row of lights like the windows on a railway carriage with the blinds drawn. He tried to close but his airplane’s engine started malfunctioning. When he fired a pistol at the lights they rose rapidly into the heavens and disappeared out of sight. 20 mins. (UFODNA)

An unusual object was sighted, that had unconventional appearance and performance. One linear object was observed in clear weather by one experienced male military witness in a warplane for 20 minutes (Morgan).