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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1445.PDF
FLIGHT International, 15 August 1963 was facing about 300°T for most of the time, but turned very slowly, and (as far as I could see) without banking, to about 240°T. It altered course (?) between these headings three times in a period of about one hour, but remained on about 300° for the greater part of the time. I rang the Air Ministry, a very disinterested official of which stated that the object had been reported by other people and that it was a met balloon from France. When I cross-examined him he said very little, and appeared to have been briefed to keep quiet. With an airstream that was prevalently north-easterly it could not have come from France, nor would a balloon remain stationary for so long a period. At this time (I was at my home in Garston, between Watford and St Albans) I rang Elstree Aerodrome and spoke to the duty air traffic controller. He, too, could see the object and gave me the following information :— (1) An unknown person, claiming to be speaking from No 5 Group, Royal Observer Corps, Watford, had phoned him and claimed that a USAF F-100 from Bentwaters had endeavoured to reach the UFO but had failed to climb high enough. (2) Southern Air Traffic Control seemed aware of the existence of this phenomenon and, through the ROC post at Elstree, had logged it as an "unidentified object". I continued to watch it until just before dark, when (although difficult to observe in any detail by then) it seemed to gain height. As far as I could see it disappeared in its original level attitude, i.e., on the VTO principle, but I would not swear that this is correct. The exercise was silent through out. Other information that may be relevant is: (1) Two ATC cadets at Elstree Aerodrome had reported seeing an object that might have been a met balloon, as early as 2 p.m. on that day. (2) As I have not read the daily newspapers recently, due to pressure of work, I knew nothing about the alleged landing of a delta-shaped object in Wiltshire, and first heard about this after witnessing the event I have just de scribed. However, I am told that my report on the object's shape is very similar to that made by the one and only witness of the Wiltshire incident. (3) The object quite obviously was very large and at a considerable height. This is supported by the fact that direction and elevation from Elstree and Garston (four miles apart) were almost identical. Although I am reluctant to estimate its altitude, it could have been at about 80,000ft and have had a span of 400ft or so. I had no means of measuring size, but from experience would compare its appearance with that of a Vulcan at 20,000ft, which I have observed with the naked eye and through binoculars on a few occasions. (4) Altogether I know of at least eight witnesses, including the two cadets, two flying instructors and the duty controller at Elstree, my wife and two neighbours. My wife and I jointly made a detailed study of this object and made sketches at the time, and we agree on all points mentioned. The controller and both instructors concerned also agree, except that they did not notice the red glow behind the trailing edge. It may be significant that whereas my wife and I were at Garston, the other three observers were at Elstree. Weather at the time was excellent, with clear blue sky and very little haze to obstruct vertical visibility. When an isolated wisp of very thin high cloud appeared for a few minutes, the object disappeared from view, thus proving that it was at a considerable altitude. For the benefit of any person who may be wary of this report, I may add that 24 hours ago I was a "disbeliever," and now have an open mind on the subject of UFOs. I would not make any attempt to guess what this was or where it originated, and I have stuck strictly to the facts. I do not suffer from an excessively imaginative mind, and as I was a high-altitude PR pilot in the RAF for several years and have been a qualified flying instructor for the last 14, I have some idea of what to expect to see in the sky and certainly know a met balloon when I meet one! Garston, Herts D. F. OGILVY 263 Who Flew C4995 ? SIR,—I have read the letter from Mr Leslie Hunt in your issue for July 25 and after studying the photograph of the aircraft which accompanies it, I can give some information about the Bristol Monoplane but cannot identify the two men standing by it. I feel certain that the machine was the personal aircraft of Major P. Q. Studd, DSO, who, following a peculiar practice sometimes adopted in World War I, had it painted to his individual requirements. It was also given a name— The Lilac Domino. Unfortunately this monoplane was written-off in a crash near Stonehenge in 1918, not by Maj Studd but by a friend of mine, Lt C. L. Startup. He had just taken off when the 110 h.p. Le Rhone rotary engine cut out. After avoiding some telephone wires by inches, he swept into a field full of molehills and rabbit holes. Startup climbed from the wreckage with difficulty but without injury, trudged back to the aerodrome and, red-faced, reported the disaster to the major. As the Bristol Monoplane was a single-seat scout, I am sure you will have to admit that you have erred somewhat in describing the two gentlemen shown in the photograph as the "crew." London SW1 ORENVILLE MANTON [The term "crew" may—nowadays at least—comprehend both aircrew and ground crew.—Ed] IN BRIEF Sr Piero Magni, a pioneer of European aviation and possessor of one of the most extensive collections of historical aviation data, wishes to contact aviation enthusiasts who might wish to exchange photographs and data concerning historical aircraft and aero engines. His address is Studio Piero Magni, Via Comelico 8, Milano, Italy. Mr Giles Hamilton writes to say that for the past three years he has been the owner of the nose section of what he believes to be the last remaining Handley Page Halifax in existence. This was the only part of the aircraft that could be saved for preservation and since 1960 has been in the open at Radlett Aerodrome, Herts. He has tried many people and organizations in the hope of preserving it, but so far without success, and he is willing to offer it to anyone who can restore it to exhibition standard and keep it in good condition. He can also offer technical information and many of the parts needed to complete restoration. Letters may be sent c/o the Editor, Flight International, Dorset House, Stamford Street, London, SE1, marked "for forwarding to Mr G. Hamilton (Letters page, August 15)." FORTHCOMING EVENTS Aug 18 Tiger Club: Air Display, Shoreham. Aug 21 Kronfeld Club: "Bomber Command during the Hitler Regime," by Vivian Varcoe. Aug 24-31 Aviation Union of Yugoslavia: International parachut ing competition, Portoroz. Aug 25 Waveney Flying Group: All-day fly-in, Seething, Norfolk. Aug 28 Kronfeld Club: "History of the Glider Pilot Regiment," by Philip Cooper. Sept 7-15 Aeronautical Exhibition, Cristoforo Colombo Airport, Genoa. Sept 8 Private Flying Association and Tiger Club: Rally, Rochester. Sept 9-15 FAI: Aviation and Spaceflight film festival, Deauville. Sept 14 Royal Air Force: "At home" day. Sept 19 British Interplanetary Society: Symposium on "Satellite Meteorology." Sept 20 Aeronautical Inspection Directorate: 50th anniversary dinner. Sept 29 Tiger Club: Air display, Fair Oaks.
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