The British phantom airship scares, 1909-1913
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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.
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.
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.
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 midnight and 1am, an airship or aeroplane was heard overhead by several residents, including Herbert A. Pertwee (partner of the witness in 1913-05). It passed very quickly and then returned three or four minutes later.
Globe, 22 January 1913, p. 5; Norfolk News, 25 January 1913, p. 10.
Between 2am and 3am, Walter Hack heard engine sounds overhead.
Norfolk News, 25 January 1913, p. 10.
Date uncertain: mid-November. F. W. Boulton and his wife heard a ‘loud whirring, humming noise’ overhead, which gradually receded.
Norfolk News, 25 January 1913, p. 10.
Date uncertain: 13 or 21 October 1912. A man saw ‘what in shape had every appearance of a Zeppelin airship’ over the sea which was visible for fifteen minutes and flew off to the east. The sky was overcast.
Norfolk News, 1 March 1913, p. 12.
Just before 11.30pm, a ‘well-known gentleman’ had stopped to repair the headlight on his motorcycle, when he was dazzled by a light shining on him from above for about thirty seconds. It was apparently travelling towards Norwich. He did not see or hear anything else.
Globe, 20 May 1909, p. 7; Norfolk News, 22 May 1909, p. 13.
A cyclist named Chatten — an assistant in a local grocery and drapery store, ‘a brisk, intelligent person, who does not in the least impress one as a dreamer of dreams and a viewer of visions’ — riding home at around midnight was dazzled by a bright, bluish light shining from above. He saw a ‘long cigar-shaped object’ three or four hundred feet above him. There appeared to be some sort of framework beneath it with a yellow light at either end. No sounds could be heard. The sky was dark but the airship could be seen outlined against it.
Norfolk News, 22 May 1909, p. 13.
Strong lights were seen between 11.30pm and midnight, and a ‘whizzing’ sound was also heard.
Globe, 20 May 1909, p. 7.
The brother of the witness in another sighting and at least one other person saw a strange light in the sky between 11.30pm and midnight.
Globe, 20 May 1909, p. 7; Norfolk News, 22 May 1909, p. 13.
Several people independently saw an airship at night.
Globe, 20 May 1909. p.7.
At 11.30pm, Mrs. Turner saw lights and heard propellers while coming home from the theatre, as did a young man and a young woman. The street was lit up as if it was day. The object flew very low and approached from the north-north-east, but was not seen itself, only a ‘bright star of light’ at the front and a searchlight at the rear.
Globe, 20 May 1909, p. 7; Norfolk News, 22 May 1909, p. 13.
Date uncertain: before 17 May 1909. No details.
Standard, 17 May 1909, p. 9.
Date uncertain: before 17 May 1909. No details.
Standard, 17 May 1909, p. 9.
Date uncertain: before 17 May 1909. Residents saw an airship. No further details.
Standard, 17 May 1909, p. 9.
A solicitor’s clerk named Edwards who had missed the last train and was walking home from Sheringham to Lowestoft spied an airship just after midnight over North Walsham; he initially saw two or three lights a short distance above the ground, but only paid close attention after hearing a ‘peculiar noise’ and then saw a ‘glaring light’. He was able to observe ‘a dark object ascending’ which headed in the direction of Yarmouth or Lowestoft.
Norfolk News, 22 May 1909, p. 13.
At 7.30pm Captain Hervey, a local government board inspector, witnessed a cigar-shaped balloon at a height of a quarter of a mile and some three of four miles distant, flying east against the wind.
Norfolk News, 22 May 1909, p. 13.
Mrs. Fricker, a nurse, saw something at around 1.20am, flashing white, green and red lights, which was visible for an hour.
Standard, 14 May 1909, p. 9.
Date uncertain. Two labourers encountered an airship.
