Visual

Just before 9pm, crowds of people in Cardiff (including, once again, the Chief Constable of Glamorganshire, Captain Lionel Lindsay), watched an aeroplane or airship with a brilliant light travel from the north-west to the south-east. It appeared to be travelling at 60 to 70 mph at a considerable height, and disappeared over the Bristol Channel.

The Times, 9 April 1913, p. 10.

An airship was seen by a crowd of people in the evening, consisting of a moving light and possibly the white gas envelope itself.

Globe, 8 March 1913, p. 2.

Date uncertain: late February or early March 1913. A ’scareship’ with two lights on either side of its dark body flew over the head of a Grimsby police constable at night, but he subsequently found that it was a box-kite flown by two young men.

Globe, 6 March 1913, p. 7.

At 8pm, the crew, including Captain J. H. Parker and the chief engineer, of the trawler Othello out of Hull saw an airship with a powerful searchlight. Initially it was distant, but within five minutes it was close enough to circle their trawler twice; in fact Captain Parker was afraid that it would crash into the mast. As it left to the west he saluted it with his siren and was answered by a flash from the searchlight. It had two lights aft. The Moon and stars were not visible.

The Times, 5 March 1913, p. 7; Manchester Guardian, 5 March 1913, p. 7; Standard, 5 March 1913, p, 8; Globe, 5 March 1913, p. 10.

A brilliant light and an airship shape were seen.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

An airship with bright lights was observed to fly in from the Irish Sea over the local batteries. Its shape was seen.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

See 1913-73.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

A brilliant light and an airship shape were seen.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

At 2am, a policeman saw an airship with ‘a powerful searchlight’ travelling from the direction of Nottingham towards Mansfield; it was seen also by a number of colliers.

The Times, 28 February 1913, p. 5; Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

Scores of people, including W. H. Webber, watched an airship with ‘two head lights and one tail light’ between about 9.10pm. Later, Webber and ‘a considerable number of people’ saw possibly the same object at 11pm, directly over the houses; it disappeared to the west.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, pp. 6, 9.

Witnesses saw a moving light for about 5 minutes.

The Times, 28 February 1913. p. 5.

A coastguard saw lights in the sky.

The Times, 28 February 1913, p. 5

‘[N]ine distinct flashes of vivid searchlight seen’.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, pp. 6, 9.

An airship was seen by a postman, a government official, and a nurse; all the usual elements were present — the brilliant searchlight, the whirring propeller and the ‘clear outline’ of the airship itself. The lights sometimes went out.

The Times, 28 February 1913, p. 5; Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

Flashing lights and a ‘long, dark moving object’ were seen.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 6, 9.

Two lights were seen.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 6, 9.

The lights and outline of an airship were seen.

Standard, 27 February 1913, p. 9; Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

What initially looked like ‘an exceptionally bright star’ at a great height was soon revealed to possess the shape of an airship; ‘the throbbing of a motor and the whirring of a propeller’ was heard. This was observed by residents to circle overhead between 8.15pm and 9pm and disappeared in the direction of Seaforth to the north.

The Times, 27 February 1913, p. 6; Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

An airship was sighted at about 8pm, its shape and a bright light were seen.

Manchester Guardian, 27 February 1913, p. 7, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

Several people, including Mr. Gouldby, watched an airship fly in from the north-east, over the sea, at 9.15pm. It was a clear night and the airship’s shape was clearly seen.

Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12.

At about 8.30pm, three bright lights were observed to rapidly approach the town from the east by a postman and numerous residents. They were visible for half an hour over the town, were sometimes stationary, and moved off to the north-west. No shape was discernible.

The Times, 27 February 1913, p. 6; Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Globe, 26 February 1913, p. 2.

‘[C]rowds of excited people’ in the centre of the city watched an airship, which came from the east, for over an hour from about 8.30pm before it disappeared to the west; it had bright lights with an occasional ‘patch of red’.

The Times, 26 February 1913, p. 8; Manchester Guardian, 26 February 1913, p. 6, 27 February 1913, p. 7, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Standard, 26 February 1913, p. 7; Globe, 26 February 1913, p. 2.

An airship with a bright light was seen to the west for about an hour after 8pm by coastguards, who observed it with binoculars. A resident claimed it came in from over the North Sea, changing course frequently, and departed westwards at speed; another resident Falconer Jameson was able to discern a discern a cone-shaped airship through binoculars; a patch of red was visible.

The Times, 26 February 1913, p. 8; Manchester Guardian, 26 February 1913, p. 6, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Standard, 26 February 1913, p. 7; Globe, 26 February 1913, p. 2.

Lights were seen and an engine heard.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

Lights were seen and an engine heard.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

Lights were seen, no further details.

Standard, 27 February 1913, p. 9.

People saw the ‘now familiar lights’ at about 9pm, and the body of the airship itself was seen ‘by help of the lighthouse’.

Manchester Guardian, 27 February 1913, p. 7, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

An airship was seen from the steamer Orcadia at 5pm.

The Times, 28 February 1913, p. 5; Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

An airship with a bright searchlight was seen at 9.30pm moving in ‘a methodical manner’ to the west by several people, including Edgar Moore; it flew off to the south-west at a high speed. It was too high for its shape to be seen (this is contradicted by one report, which also says that the engine was heard).

The Times, 26 February 1913, p. 8; Manchester Guardian, 26 February 1913, p. 6, 27 February 1913, p. 7, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Standard, 26 February 1913, p. 7.

At 8pm (or possibly 9.30pm) an airship carrying a bright light was seen by two police constables, Jenkins and Boyers, and a Royal Marine sergeant, among others. It was observed to hover above the Marine barracks, and arrived from and returned to the north or north-east. The airship’s shape was dimly perceived by the Marine to be a ‘dirigible of considerable size’.

The Times, 26 February 1913, p. 8; Manchester Guardian, 26 February 1913, p. 6, 27 February 1913, p. 7, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Standard, 26 February 1913, p. 7, 27 February 1913, p. 9.

An airship was seen at night for five minutes by a manufacturer.

Standard, 25 February 1913, p. 9.

The shape of an airship with lights seen.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

An airship without lights was seen overhead ‘with perfect distinctness, including wing attachments’ heading west-south-west towards Grimsby, by Captain Lundie and Second Officer Williams of the steamer City of Leeds out of Grimsby, bound for Hamburg. The Moon was shining brightly and the airship was seen for a full two minutes. It was observed with binoculars.

The Times, 3 March 1913, p. 7, 5 March 1913, p. 7; Manchester Guardian, 3 March 1913, p. 9, 5 March 1913, p. 7; Standard, 3 March 1913, p. 9; Globe, 3 March 1913, p. 7.

At 4.30am the two men from 1913-26 saw an airship over the lock. They could see the bulging cigar-shaped outline faintly, as well as its searchlight, three wheels and a ‘faint throbbing noise’.

Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3.

Lights seen, no further details.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9.

At 7.40pm, Mrs. Schofield, the wife of the manager of Singer’s Machine Company in Selby, saw two very powerful lights, one in front ‘like the headlight of a motor car’ and one 30 to 40 feet to the rear approaching while being driven to the village of Cawood. Having seen a flight of army airmen on their way to Montrose in Scotland the day before, she was able to estimate the airship’s height at some 1500 to 2000 feet. It disappeared from view within three or four minutes.

Standard, 26 February 1913, p. 7. On the flight to Montrose, see Globe, 21 February 1913, p. 12, 22 February 1913, p. 7.

Rapidly moving lights seen at night, no further details.

The Times, 27 February 1913, p. 6; Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Globe, 26 February 1913, p. 2.

The airship or aeroplane, at a considerable height, was seen for about five minutes on a clear moonlit night at about 9.45pm by a number of witnesses ‘of irreproachable character’ including policemen and colliers, in Exhall and Longford. It appeared to be carrying two headlights and a rear light, came from the direction of Leicester and headed west towards Birmingham very quickly.

The Times, 24 February 1913, p. 6; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Standard, 24 February 1913, p. 9.

Airship seen at night, no further details.

Standard, 25 February 1913, p. 9.

Airship seen at night, no further details.

Standard, 25 February 1913, p. 9.

At 10pm, insurance superintendent John Collinwood with a group of businessmen watched an airship with red and green lights playing its searchlight over the railway lines from the Church Fenton station, seven miles to the north of Selby. At point it was low over the houses and then it rose to a considerable height. After twenty minutes it flew north at great speed.

Standard, 24 February 1913, p. 9; Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3.

The train driver on the express from Wistow Gates to Selby, Fred Head, reported that an airship with a bright headlight kept pace with his train, to the front and side, until it was lost in the fog.

Standard, 25 February 1913, p. 9; Globe, 25 February 1913, p. 10.

Nine miles east of Selby, a man and his horse were startled by the bright light of an airship between 10pm and 11pm heading very quickly towards Bridlington.

Standard, 24 February 1913, p. 9.

Lights and the shape of an airship seen.

Manchester Guardian, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3.

At 9.30pm two men, John Ripley and T. Clarke, were loading a barge with sand on the river Ouse when they saw lights circling the countryside for some time.

Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3.

Airship seen at night, no further details.

Standard, 25 February 1913, p. 9.

An airship was seen; no further details.

Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3.

Airship seen at night, no further details.

Standard, 25 February 1913, p. 9.

Solicitor C. H. March and his wife watched a bright starlike object flying to the west of Selby from about 9.25pm, moving up and down and occasionally disappearing. Just after 10pm it disappeared to the west. Mr Sanderson Daw saw it flying overhead; it had a strong front light and two rear lights. Two women saw it using its searchlight over a common. At 10pm Sergeant Skyrme, an Army veteran of twenty years’ service, saw an object he took to be an aeroplane with powerful lights in front and rear.

Manchester Guardian, 27 February 1913, p. 7, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Standard, 24 February 1913, p. 9; Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3; Globe, 25 February 1913, p. 10.

An airship with searchlight was seen between 7.40pm and 10pm, and its engine heard.

Manchester Guardian, 27 February 1913, p. 7, 1 March 1913, p. 9; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Daily Herald, 26 February 1913, p. 3.

Dentist’s wife Mrs. McClure and her friend saw an airship while driving from Riccall to Selby. It had bright lights at the front and rear, and disappeared to the northwest of Selby.

Standard, 25 February 1913, p. 9.

At 8pm, a fruit and potato merchant named Creasor saw and heard the airship, with a powerful searchlight, at Riccall, three miles north of Selby. A grocer named George Daniels and others in his house heard an aircraft between 9pm and 10pm; upon going outside they saw a bright light fast approaching, and they could see the long cigar shape of the envelope. It carried a searchlight and a rear light, and headed towards Market Weighton. Several other people on the outskirts of Riccall also saw it.

Standard, 24 February 1913, p. 9, 26 February 1913, p. 7.

See 1913-33.

The Times, 24 February 1913, p. 6; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Standard, 24 February 1913, p. 9, 25 February 1913, p. 9.

Lights seen at night and engine sounds heard at about 8.30pm, no further details.

The Times, 27 February 1913, p. 6; Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12; Globe, 26 February 1913, p. 2.

Date uncertain: ca. 6 February 1913. A drifting light was seen by several people, including E. G. Herbert and a boy, at 6.30pm; it was about 20 degrees above the horizon, due south. It moved to the west-south-west over a period of about five minutes, and gradually disappeared. No shape was seen.

Manchester Guardian, 28 February 1913, p. 4.

A ‘mysterious airship’ was seen by members of the Marshall family. Only a light was visible, which appeared to be directed downwards and was buffeted by the wind. It was under observation for 25 minutes from about 6.30pm. The light disappeared and reappeared twice and finally disappeared to the north.

Manchester Guardian, 6 February 1913, p. 9.

On a bright night with little wind, an airship was seen shortly after 8pm for ‘a considerable time’. The thousands of witnesses included a police sergeant; some claimed to clearly see the outlines of the airship, which carried a bright light, over the Bristol Channel. It passed out of sight to the northwest.

The Times, 6 February 1913, p. 12; Manchester Guardian, 6 February 1913, p. 9; Standard, 6 February 1913, p. 8.

See 1913-21.

The Times, 6 February 1913, p. 12; Manchester Guardian, 6 February 1913, p. 9; Standard, 6 February 1913, p. 8.

See 1913-20.

The Times, 6 February 1913, p. 12; Manchester Guardian, 6 February 1913, p. 9; Standard, 6 February 1913, p. 8.

A number of people saw an airship.

Globe, 3 February 1913, p. 12.

Police constable Church observed an airship heading west over Swansea Bay and the Mumbles at 7.30pm for an hour, and several other people also witnessed ‘the outline of an airship carrying a light’.

Globe, 3 February 1913, p. 12; The Times, 4 February 1913, p. 4; Manchester Guardian, 4 February 1913, p. 5.

Colonel Henry Lewis’s servants, including a stud groom, saw an airship with a light at the rear coming from Cardiff and heading west at 10.45pm. Although Neath was telephoned nobody saw it there and so it was assumed to have crossed the Bristol Channel to Exmoor. The night was clear.

The Times, 4 February 1913, p. 4; Globe, 3 February 1913, p. 12; Standard, 3 February 1913, p. 9; Manchester Guardian, 4 February 1913, p. 5. The precise location is from Nigel Watson, Granville Oldroyd, and David Clarke, The 1912-1913 British Phantom Airship Scare (South Humberside: Self published, 1987), 198.

Multiple witnesses, including two women and a former army officer using binoculars, saw three mystery aircraft heading west at 6pm, one flashing a red light. At midnight a man heard an aircraft overhead.

Norfolk News, 8 February 1913, p. 11.

An airship was seen, no further details.

Globe, 3 February 1913, p. 12.

Between 7pm and 8.30pm, an unidentified aircraft (described by some as an aeroplane) was watched by five people over this Liverpool suburb for some time. It carried