The Missouri Democrat dated October 19, 1865 gives an account of the sighting of an unknown flying object under the headline of “A STRANGE STORY-REMARKABLE DISCOVERY.” The story was reported by one James Lumley, who was a trapper. The report stated that “if” what Lumley reported was true, it would shake the foundations of the scientific world. Lumley claims that in the middle of September, he was trapping in the mountains at a location about 75-100 miles above the Great Falls of the Upper Missouri River.
Just after sunset, Lumley saw a “bright, luminous, body” in the skies. This body moved very quickly to the East. After five seconds, the unknown object burst into pieces. He soon heard a thunderous explosion followed by a “rushing sound.” This explosion shook the ground. He could smell Sulphur in the air. Though impressed by what he had seen and heard, the next day would bring even more remarkable discoveries.
About two miles from his campsite, he could see a path cut through the forest. Whatever had come through the area had leveled everything in its path. He soon discovered the cause of the great destruction, a giant object which was made of a rock-like material.
This object had been driven into the side of a mountain after ripping through the forest. This was much more than an asteroid or comet: the object was divided into compartments. Also, hieroglyphic-like symbols could be seen carved into the object’s surface. He also discovered fragments of what appeared to be glass, and strange liquid-like stains located in several places on the object.
Almost humorously, the newspaper account ascertains that the object “had” to be a meteor which was used by extraterrestrials. Their theory was that these other-worldly beings traveled on meteors, and would eventually land on Earth, and put mankind into wholesale servitude. NOTE: The above image is CGI.
Time of Sighting: (9 to 10 PM P.D.T.) Location: Along Discovery Avenue in Ocean Shores, Washington Latitude: 46.95789 Degrees North Longitude: 124.13743 Degrees West Number of Witnesses: Four Weather: Clear – stars visible
J. H. was walking with three friends (three brothers named A. E., V. E. and K. E.) along Discovery Avenue when they saw something strange in the sky. It was a very clear and starry night. J. H. happened to be carrying binoculars because they often walked in this area and wildlife was abundant. Only J. H. had binoculars, but he handed the binoculars off to his friends as they observed the strange “sort of saucer-shaped” whitish object pass over them from south to north. It was whitish silver (tin colored) and circular in shape with two protrusions on either side – slightly pointed appendages The size was undetermined but he said that the size would more than cover his thumb width at arm’s length. One of his friends (A. E.) became so interested in UFOs after this sighting that he wrote a book on UFOs, but J. H. doesn’t know if the book was ever published. (UFOs Northwest has found no reference to such a book by A. E. on Amazon.com.)
In any event, a meteor passed over the object while they were watching it with keen interest and the object stopped dead in the sky as if to “watch” the meteor as it traveled northward and burned in the atmosphere. The meteor entered the atmosphere at about the position in the sky where the object was positioned and began burning at that point. The object stayed dead in the sky for a full couple of seconds or more before turning eastward and continued at its moderate pace. They all walked and ran to keep pace with the sight of the object until they reached the end of the road (at that time) at the marina looking over the bay southeasterly. They watched the object until it disappeared into the lights over Hoquiam, Washington. From the outset, the dogs that were with them barked as if they could “hear” the object, but it was entirely silent to the human observers.
Investigative Notes/Conclusion: This sighting occurred over 30 years ago. For this reason it is difficult to conduct any further investigation. The sighting is significant because four witnesses had the experience. (Only one witness has been interviewed so far.) Plans are to interview the other witnesses. Any new information will be presented on this website. NOTE: The above image is real but from another case file.
Based
on initial suspicions concerning the fireball that passed over Washington State
and British Columbia at approximately 2207 hrs. (PDT) on Friday night, 28AP00,
Peter Davenport decided to perform at least a cursory examination of the
available data. His hope was to be
able to establish whether the event was consistent with a typical meteoritic
event, at least in gross terms, or whether it might have exhibited
characteristics, which are inconsistent with such an event.
Initial
suspicion was aroused by the following aspects of the event:
1)
Several
of the witnesses in the Seattle area reported that the object, and the manner in
which it moved across the sky, seemed unusual to them, “not like a
meteor”;
2)
One of
the witnesses in Aldergrove, B.C., reported that the object appeared to be
“below” the cloud layer, which would be inconsistent with most
meteoritic events;
3)
It was reported that the Sandia sky-camera (in Woodinville, WA) had not
recorded the event, even though the camera was operating normally at the time of
the event, and even though the skies at the time were “partially cloudy
with large clear spots.” Given
how dramatic the event apparently was, it seemed illogical that the camera would
not have recorded the event, had it been a typical meteor or bolide, i.e. at an
assumed altitude measured in tens of miles.
((In a subsequent communication, the operator of the camera indicates
that the clouds to the west of the camera’s location were almost solid.
He reports, too, that a second inspection of his tape for the time period
of the event, again, revealed nothing.))
4) None
of the witnesses reported a sonic boom, or any audible sound.
Because the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) had
been contacted by several witnesses to the event who reside in the Seattle area,
Davenport felt that at least a preliminary collection of on-site, eyewitness
data could be collected, and analyzed, with a minimum of effort.
Hence, on Wednesday, May 03, he contacted Mr. Robert B. Frost, a retired
(40 yrs.) senior engineer (E.E.) from Boeing Military to request his assistance
in an investigation. Mr. Frost
consented to participate in the investigation, and he and Davenport met on
Thursday, May 04, with two witnesses, from whom they collected sighting data.
A
Garmin hand-held GPS unit (Model 44) was used for latitude/longitude
measurements. A Brunton surveyor’s
pocket transit (Model 5006LM), mounted on a wooden tripod (brass fittings) was
used for azimuth and elevation measurements.
Both instruments provided by Mr. Frost.
Bob
Frost, serving as principal investigator in the case, took the readings and read
them to Davenport, who recorded them. Mr.
Frost performed calculations on the data and communicated them to Peter
Davenport, who prepared a draft of this document.
The draft was submitted to Bob Frost for final proof-reading and any
final amendments
SIGHTING
DATA:
WITNESS
#1: Female/Homemaker;
age: mid-30’s.
Resides in Ballard area of Seattle, approximately 8 miles north of
Seattle Space Needle.
The
witness described the object observed as being extremely bright, generally white
in color, and somewhat oval in shape, with a distinctly convex dorsal side, and
generally flat ventral side. (She
drew an image for the investigators.) She estimated its (apparent) size to be approximately a major
fraction of the width of her thumbnail, held at arm’s length, and viewed with
one eye closed. She stated that the
object was moving generally from her right to left, as she faced east. The
object passed behind tall conifer trees to the east of her position, which
apparently assisted her in estimating the object’s apparent position in the sky
(both azimuth and elevation) at the time of her sighting.
The witness indicated that the sky was clear, with no clouds evident.
Witness
estimated she observed the object for approximately 2 seconds.
She lost sight of the object as it passed behind trees.
Witness
Lat./Long.: North 47 deg.
41.808 min. West 122 deg. 23.525
min.
Final
Sighting:
Azimuth: 32 deg. (true) Elevation:
9 deg. 20 min.
WITNESS
#2: Male; age:
early 20’s. Resides in
Northgate area of Seattle, approximately 1-2 miles northeast of Northgate
Shopping Center, which is located just east of Interstate-5.
Witness
described the object as being extremely bright, generally white in color,
seemingly round in shape, with perhaps a greenish tint to its fringe.
He estimated its (apparent) size as being equal to a major fraction of
the width of his thumbnail, held at arm’s length, and viewed with one eye
closed. He stated that the object
moved at an extremely high (angular) velocity, passing generally from his right
to left, as he faced east. As was the case with Witness #1, the object passed behind
tall conifer trees to the east of Witness #2, providing him with a good
reference as to the object’s apparent position (both azimuth and elevation).
Witness #2 emphasized how fast the object was moving across the sky.
He indicated that he had never seen anything move across the sky that
fast.
The
witness reported that the sky was clear, and no clouds were evident.
Witness estimated he observed the object for 3.5-4.5 seconds.
Witness
Lat./Long.: North 47 deg.
43.205 min. West 122 deg.
19.021 min.
Initial
Sighting: Azimuth: 98 deg. 30 min. (true) Elevation:
35 deg. 40 min.
Final
Sighting: Azimuth: 14 deg. (true)
Elevation:
13 deg. 10 min.
Note:
The difference in elevation between the two witnesses was not measured,
but its is estimated to be not more than 200 feet, and therefore is
insignificant.
We
may take similar readings from other witnesses in attempt to corroborate the
above findings. We are hoping for
more reports.
RESULTS:
1)
Based on the GPS measurements, the distance between the two witnesses was
20,329 feet.
2)
The altitude of the “fireball” was approximately 4,200 feet (AGL).
(Range: 3,000 to 5,000
feet).
3)
The object was traveling at a velocity of between 4,000 and 6,000 feet
per second.
4)
Over the range of sighting by the two witnesses, the object was coursing
on a heading of approximately 350-360 degrees (true).
5) The length of the object (horizontal axis) is estimated to be in the vicinity of 70-200 feet. NOTE: The above image is CGI.
Summary: A VERY large, Boomerang-shaped object tracked across the sky in a NE direction just after full dark.
.
I wish I had not waited months to reports this, but until recently did not know who to report it to. I saw a television program that described your field researchers and I liked that your set scientific and observational standards. I do not like wild speculation and absurd conjectures as I often see in deranged programs like UFO Hunters or whatever it is called. I like mysteries to be approached rationally. This brings me back to the night of August 11, 2010. I have long wondered if anyone else had reported anything for that night. Soon after the event, I posted an oblique statement on my Facebook page “Did anyone else see that?” simply so I would not forget the date and time. I do not jump to conclusions, but I have also failed to find a prosaic explanation for the event. There were two other people with me who saw the strange object. I will leave their names off of here for the time being. [They live nearby, but I have not asked their permission to include them in this report.] We were standing in my driveway just after full dark. It was likely between 8 and 9pm. Checking the time for full darkness at the time of the year should some up with a very close approximate time. There was a bright moon shinning in the in the southeast quadrant of the sky. I think if it were not for that, we would have seen nothing. I was facing north toward my companions as we stood there talking. The evening was pleasant and it had grown dark. It was not unusual for us to stand outside and talk although we were about to say goodnight. One of my companions was looking behind me and saw it first. She made a gasping noise or other sound while looking into the sky behind me. I turned to see what she was looking at. We live about 20 miles from Philadelphia International Airport in the town of Richwood, NJ and frequently have large numbers of commercial airliners circling overhead. I expected something of this sort. What I saw was very different. I turned to look south and saw it almost immediately or at least the impression of it. I also said a rather surprising swear word which I would not normally use in this company. The object was moving quickly in a east-north-east direction [toward the Delaware River and Chester, PA] and at first it was just a suggestion of movement because it was black against black. It was simply a different shape of black flying with no lights at all. The moonlight caught on the shape and revealed it as the sharp-angled boomerang without further detail to the surface. It annoys me to report it as an angular boomerang shape because I know there have been many other reports like that. It was very large in the sky. Much larger than the commercial airliners we see daily on their approach to Philadelphia. I do not know what altitude the circling airliners are at this point in their approach, but that is probably not too difficult to find out. Their windows are easily visible. This was far larger than those. There were no airplanes in sight at the time of the event.
.
The trouble is that for it to be that size it would have to have been either unusually low and close to us or farther away and unbelievably vast in size. The object cruised quickly by without the slightest sound or change in speed or altitude. I hoped it would pass in front of the moon, but unfortunately it moved “beneath” where the moon was and was quickly lost to view in the dark. It was moving fast but without knowing the distance I would not guess at its speed. It was gone before there was much chance of further reaction. I turned to my companions and we were all equally dumbfounded. There was nothing more to do except head inside. I typed the note on Facebook so I would not forget, but I also had hoped someone else might say something. It was a long shot. No one else reported anything.
.
I have seen stealth bombers flying in the desert and they are huge. This object was at LEAST that large, but I felt it was larger still. The stealth was my best suspect as I racked my brain, but it does not make sense. For a stealth to be that large, it would have to be too close. Why would a bomber be flying so low in a densely populated area? A stealth can easily fly above local air traffic. Flying without lights would be extremely dangerous around this crowded airspace even if you were training the crew in radar evasion. NOTE: The above image is CGI.
I have seen flying saucers since august 18, 1980. This was my 8th UFO experience, but I have never seen orbs, only spaceships. These were orbs, I think, not what I usually experience. I first noticed the object before dinner, but I just blew it off. We had dinner on the beach, overlooking the water. My wife noticed it after dinner, when we went to leave. I immediately saw a large bright light again, much brighter than the first time, approximately 45 earlier. I knew immediately what it was, a UFO. We just purchased a camera a few days before, and we went to the waters edge, and started filming. My wife did. The object, there were 4-5 of them, were extremely bright, varying in size from a pin head to a quarter. I estimate about half a mile to a mile away from shoreline. They moved independently, and went from bright small in size, to immensely bright and huge, maybe the size of a quarter. They moved up and down, remained stationary, and one of them went over land when big, over I would assume sandy hook area, 10-15 miles north of where we were.
There were 6-7 people on the beach watching and filming as well. It was amazing to see. My feelings…very excited, very controlled. I wanted to attract them, and stood in the light than ran across the water and did jumping jacks to attract it. It did not respond. The objects got extremely big and bright maybe 3-4 times. These actions unfortunately were not captured on video of photos. I told my wife to take video, to make sure we had it on video. I spoke to my cousin on the cell phone throughout part of the experience, because he knows of all the things I have experienced, and I was describing the scene to him as it happened. I am very lucky to have experienced what I have throughout my life. We never lost sight of the objects. We left after about an hour or so. We saw amazing detail of 2 orbs around a tremendous bright round light, sometimes two bright circles of light. Unfortunately, I do not know how to submit this to you right now, but will have my wife do so in the next few days to a week. You will be amazed, or maybe not, since this is probably common but it is amazing, and I would like an explanation as to what this is. I believe it is extra terrestrial. My wife thinks it was secret military craft, but she also said she did not know what it was. She does not believe in UFO’S, since she has never seen one, but then, she could not explain what we saw. NOTE: The above image is a rendering.
KEN’S NOTE: This area has been very active with sightings over the years. Ft Monmouth is nearby and has a two mile dock that protrudes out into the bay. Military ships can be seen there often. The bay leads to the Varrazano Bridge and eventually Manhattan. Check it-out on Google Earth.
This case is under investigation by Bob Spearing of MUFON New Jersey.
