Sir Francis Chichester UFO Incident (1931)

Sir Francis Chichester, a renowned British aviator and sailor, recounted an extraordinary experience during his pioneering solo flight from New Zealand to Australia in 1931. Working from his map-making office decades later, he vividly described seeing what he perceived as an unidentified flying object, or UFO. His detailed recollection paints a picture of a peculiar, pearl-shaped object with a tail, which he likened to a “blimp,” but colored a pure blue.

During the flight, which he described as grueling, Chichester noted that the mysterious object initially appeared, then suddenly vanished, leaving him questioning his own senses amidst the fatigue and stress of expecting his plane to potentially crash into the sea due to engine troubles. Intriguingly, the object reappeared, approaching him rapidly before it began to morph, thinning out and eventually becoming translucent. In a ghost-like transformation, he could see the waves and sea through it before it completely disappeared from sight.

Sir Francis Chichester’s notable solo flight was achieved in a De Havilland DH 60G Gipsy Moth seaplane, specifically named “Madam Elijah” (ZK-AKK). This aircraft, a Gipsy Moth, was a prominent model used during that era for long-distance flights and was fitted with floats to accommodate the maritime sections of his journey. The flight required multiple stops, including at Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island for refueling, where Chichester faced significant challenges including a gale that temporarily capsized his seaplane.

This sighting is particularly notable given Chichester’s status as a credible and highly respected figure, not prone to fanciful tales. His experience contributes to the historical record of aviators encountering unexplained phenomena, long before the topic gained widespread public and scientific attention. His account from 1931 remains a captivating anecdote in the annals of aerial anomalies, witnessed by a man who later achieved knighthood for his sailing achievements and was celebrated for his navigational skills and adventurous spirit.