Early Tic-tac? Aviator Sir Francis Chichester encountered an “oblong pearl” UFO in 1931

Early UFO Encounters: Aviator Sir Francis Chichester’s 1931 Observation of an “Oblong Pearl”

In the annals of aviation history, few accounts stand out as intriguing early reports of unidentified flying objects. Among these, Sir Francis Chichester’s 1931 encounter during a pioneering solo flight from New Zealand to Australia offers a fascinating glimpse into the phenomena that predate modern UFO narratives.

The Context of the Encounter

Sir Francis Chichester, a renowned aviator known for his adventurous spirit and pioneering flights, was undertaking a significant milestone: the first solo flight between New Zealand and Australia. During this historic journey, he documented an extraordinary sighting that has captured the imagination of UFO enthusiasts and aviation historians alike.

The Sightings

According to Chichester’s own words, the sighting occurred amidst clear skies, with only a few clouds present. He recounted:

“Suddenly, ahead and thirty degrees to the left, there were bright flashes in several places, like the dazzle of a heliograph. I saw a dull grey-white airship coming towards me. It seemed impossible, but I could have sworn that it was an airship, nosing towards me like an oblong pearl. Except for a cloud or two, there was nothing else in the sky.”

He observed a craft that appeared to resemble “an oblong pearl,” its dull grey-white hue contrasting with the sky. Notably, the object displayed flashes and gleams, darting around his Gipsy Moth biplane, and then exhibiting perplexing behaviors such as sudden disappearance and reappearance.

The Phenomenon’s Details

Chichester’s vivid description includes several remarkable observations:

• Multiple flashes and gleams in the sky, with the craft seemingly coming towards him.
• The object’s shape resembled an “oblong pearl,” a term that strikingly mirrors later UFO descriptions.
• Instances of the craft vanishing and reappearing unpredictably.
• The appearance of a ghostly dimming and reemerging effect as it approached, suggesting baffling optical phenomena or physical illusions.

He expressed certain doubts about the nature of the object, contemplating whether it might have been a cloud shaped like an airship that dissolved — yet the precise reseeding of its shape after vanishing added to the mystery.

Reflecting on a Pre-UFO Era

What makes Chichester’s account particularly compelling is that it predates widespread public awareness or