Case ID | #35 |
Title | 1 SEPTEMBER 1957 – BRISTOL CHANNEL OFF PORTHCAWL |
Location | BRISTOL CHANNEL OFF PORTHCAWL |
Tags | Sighting UFO Lights Orb |
Date | Sunday, 1st of September 1957 |
It was nearly midnight. Two policemen were patrolling the seafront at
Porthcawl. Then it happened.....Something rose out of the water on the
horizon – something that was blood-red, with a jagged black streak
across its centre.
What the policemen saw on Sunday was officially reported last night. The
report has gone to “top level.”
Chief-Inspector Reginald Jones, of “D” Division, Glamorgan Police, said
that the two policemen thought at first that they were seeing a ship on
fire on the horizon towards Ilfracombe.
But then it rose out of the water like a blood-red sun – much larger
than a full-sized harvest moon.
As they watched, two more streaks appeared above and below. It remained
at sea level, then loved off at “fantastic” speed towards the Atlantic.
WAS IT VENUS?
In London, an Air Ministry spokesman said that one possible explanation
of the phenomenon was that it was “a planet playing tricks.”
“What the officers reported seeing is consistent with this.”
“Venus does at certain times of the year play all kinds of tricks –
often due to climatic conditions. A reflection of the planet appears in
the sky.”
“This is sometimes the explanation of flying saucers.”
A meteorologist said that the most likely explanation was that the
policemen saw the Aurora Borealis – Northern Lights – which had been
reported as having been seen during the past two or three nights.
Source: Western Mail Wednesday 4 September 1957.
“Just over a week ago, two policemen patrolling Porthcawl promenade,
reported seeing a “mysterious red disc” moving across the sky at a
fantastic speed. It was seen at the same time over Carmarthen Bay, and
again the lifeboat was called out. Porthcawl police reported last night
that the lights had not been seen again although a watch was being
kept.”
Source: Western Mail 10 September 1957.
The lady even remembered what her neighbour told her about where they were exactly, which is not in the article.
Apparently, one had just patrolled the eastern end of the promenade, the other, Rest Bay. They'd met in the middle for a chat and a sly fag in the porch of the Porthcawl Pavilion (now a glassed-in cafe). They were there when they saw the object come out of the sea. It's little details like that that I personally love about this subject! Would be nice to track the men down for an interview! - E.W.
Case last edited: Mon 8th June 2020 23:28 PM