UFO CASE #456: Pescara, Italy 1961

Hey Everybody,

Was looking thru some old docs I had laying around and came accross this info about a peculiar looking UFO spotted in Pescara Italy in 1961, the story goes something like this:

Around mid-day on April 27 at around 14:00, 1961, Bruno Ghibaudi, a scientific journalist was driving on the national highway.
(paralleling the beach at Montesilvano Pescara, Italy - 42-28-60 N, 14-07-60 E)

Due to some car troubles he pulls over and stops, as he begins to work on the car he notices an unusual metallic-looking disc-shaped flying object coming in at a low level over the ocean.

It passed overhead, slowed, made a sharp turn towards the north and flew away.

Above is the only known photo of the strange, almost organic multi-winged craft Bruno photographed, as depicted in the artwork below from La Domenica del Corriere, April 15 1962. (artist unknown)

Alternate original:

So what caught my attention is that the shape of this particular craft is not the usual shape were use to hearing about when it comes to sightings.

Speculation on what it could be (if indeed real) vary from story to story, seems Ghibaudi was ridiculed and scoffed at after the reporting to the point where he was excluded from the scientific community group he was part of.


Text from the original newspaper article: (translated)

Excerpt from “La Domenica del Corriere” – April 22nd, 1962

The event took place April 27th, 1961.

I was traveling on the Adriatic National Highway on my way back from a television interview. From Ancona I was making my way to Pescara.

At approximately 7km from Pescara, near my residence in Montesilvano the cars engine died out, it wasn’t the first time my car gave me trouble.
It was around 2:00PM, some cars passed me by as I was working on the vehicle, but nobody stopped.

Once done what I had to do I found myself looking at the sea while cleaning my hands with a rag. All of a sudden a blurring dot I noticed under the clouds caught my attention as it got bigger and bigger.

The object was coming from South-West towards me, as it approached and was in visual range I noticed it’s strange shape, an elliptical shape from where small and large triangular winglets extruded from.
The strange craft was an opaque grey color and non-reflective. It’s flight was silent and not fast at all.

Finding the “delta” shape somewhat familiar I thought maybe some American Aircraft carrier Plane nearby was having technical trouble and was trying to do an emergency landing.

I quickly opened the glove compartment to grab my camera, that is almost always with me.

Meanwhile the strange craft was getting closer and I was seeing it very clearly.

It was about 8 meters, I quickly ran across the highway and took a quick picture with my camera, without having the time to focus the object in the cameras viewfinder, since the craft was now only a few meters above the waters.

While I was getting closer to take another picture, the strange craft, without touching the ground, sped off at high speed toward the coast.
I stayed near the beach for awhile, looking around angry at the fact I had only taken 1 photo.

Suddenly, my attention was directed towards something else, high up in the sky, in the south-west direction, it seemed to be some light flares of sorts that immediately transformed into black dense spheres.

In that same instant what appeared to me to be a flying disc, perfectly round arrived in the same direction and was getting closer real fast. A few seconds later it was in range for my camera, the disc was perfectly silent, thicker in the middle while the edges were very thin.

A semi-sphere type of canopy was visible on the top of the craft, color was grey and with little light reflection.

Then the disc traveled away in the North-East direction for a few kilometers. I scanned the horizon again and noticed 2 small dots that were quickly approaching from South-West.

They were another 2 discs, once they were in visual range I snapped some more photographs and observed them for awhile.

The dimensions (about 50ft in Diameter) were about the same as the previous crafts I had observed, but the shaped were slightly different.

One of the discs in particular had 3 clear flouresent semi-sphere objects, 120 degrees from one another on the lower surface of the craft.

After awhile there were 3 discs, the 1st disc had approached and positioned itself next to the other 2 in formation.


A Second Surprise

Around me the air seemed to be on fire, I felt as if I was engulfed in an intense electrical field and was feeling very agitated.

I looked around, no one was there.

At about 200 meters some children were running on the beach, the discs meanwhile were absolutely silent, but around the craft you could see strange flares that eventual transformed into dark spheres, as observed by the 1st disc.

A few times I was under the impression that the beams were focused on me, it’s impossible to explain how I felt at that moment, a few times I was tempted to just run from there but curiosity and the fact my legs felt paralyzed kept me there.

At this moment I realized I had slipped and had fallen to the ground, on the beach, at this point I hear the 2 children on the beach had realized what was happening started to run away screaming, after a few moments the disc formation broke apart and disappeared into the distance.

I was sweating and trembling with emotion (fear).

I got back into my car and quickly made my way back to Pescara, where I immediately brought my film roll to be developed, hoping that within half an hour I would have my 1st surprise.

The negatives appeared to be deformed in some ways as if it was subjected to some sort of intense heat, but the crafts had left their indistinguishable shapes.

A few minutes later I had the photos in hand, the enlargements revealed many details which were not noticeable while looking at the negatives, I was very impressed.

Only after having inspected the photographs I realized what an incredible event I had taken part in.

The whole event took about 2 or 3 minutes if I recall correctly.

The article goes on from here briefly explaining that eventually a student from Rome called Bruno 10 days or so later explaining he too had seen the disc objects and corroborating the story, several newspapers took interest in the story but it evidently stopped there.
original article in Italian



Pescara, Italy



personal note: not sure how this student from Rome found out about the story, since it was only days later he contacted Bruno, the article listed here was written about a year so after the fact so that leaves this hole in the story.


Now you might be wondering where are the photos of the disc shaped Bruno took? Well good question, I haven’t been able to find any yet and will post them if I find any..


Still the question remains, what was this thing? could it of been a real UFO? an experimental military craft? or as even speculated by some to be some form of creature?


As for the other disc shaped crafts mentioned in the article, well thats a good one.....


While checking out further details about this story (which seems to get deeper and more intricate..and possibly more shady) it seems Bruno Ghibaudi (remember this guy is/was a Scientific journalist, I also discovered he also had some doctorates and other highly respectable degrees.) later went on to write weekly UFO articles and investigations in various scientific newspapers of the time he also later claims to meet or encounter the occupents/beings that piloted the alleged crafts.....
thats how he apparently gets kicked out of the scientific guild/community.


Well, I'm not sure what to believe but it still freaks me out....what do you think?


comments and/or corrections are always welcome!!


Source 1
Source 2
Source 3 (Italian)
Italian UFO sightings

Further references:
- Case #16 of project Blue Book (cannot confirm this..)
- Case CISU #190
- Illustration taken from "La Domenica del Corriere - 15 April 1962"
- Paris Flammonde, "UFOs Exist", G.P. Putnam´s, 1976, p. 232
- Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno du 14 novembre 1978
Umberto Telarico, L’Ufologia in Italia (DNA magazine)
- M. Machlin and T. Beckley, "UFO", Quick Fox, 1981, p9.
- Edoardo Russo & Maurizio Verga, UFO & Alieni, November 1997, p 91.


peace






[edit on 10-5-2005 by quadricle]

Not to try and debunk you or anything, I like to believe, but that looks a bit like an american stealth jet, and not really a UFO. But it is probably just the photo, I'm sure Bruno would know the difference.

That's the wierdest looking thing... it looks like it was designed for travelling underwater more than in the air??

it is a weird looking shape object. i don't even know if it could be designed for air or water. it doesn't have much aerodynamism to be honest. the 4 wings don't seem to be made to stay in the air (not really flat!)
i also noticed that the bottom looks like the bottom fin from a shark.
anyway, i would like to read what the news said (by the way, if you need help for translating from italian, i can give you a hand)

jules

Yes, I must say that the first glance at it, I thought it was a flying shark. Definately a weird UFO compared to all the other reports. I'd like to read more into this.

Originally posted by Elrond Elven
(...)but that looks a bit like an american stealth jet, and not really a UFO(...)

Oh yeah? In 1961? Please... I hope you do not believe that.

Btw, I have seen reports on that one and it is surely one that is intriguing and definitely different...

I've been trying to figure out what it reminds me of and I think it's because it's hovering just like a Harrier VTOL Jet.





It has that same 'nose up' attitude and you can even see the water (or sand?) getting stirred up underneath it. Apart from that, it doesn't look like anything that was being developed in the 50's or 60's. History of VSTOL Aircraft

I've always liked this case. Appears to be a legitimate unknown flying machine. Those fins might be camouflage to make the ship look like a whale or shark when it dips slightly out of the water.

[edit on 10-5-2005 by heelstone]

Hi y'all,

Thanks for all the comments!!

I just updated the post with the orignal Italian article translated to english.

Makes for a interesting read...

As you will note there is the fact of the other 3 "disc" shaped craft Bruno witnesses and photographs but I am unable to locate any of these pix atm...strange..

As for the theory about the sighting being mistaken for a US stealth craft, well this theory was brought up already....for fun this is what they had compared it to:

The Lockheed L133 (development started circa 1939)

later








[edit on 10-5-2005 by quadricle]

i have to believe that this picture is of a airplane jet thing. That is 99.9% airplane. so there in only.1% chance that this picture is of a UFO

The update is very interesting. I always start doubting when these people claim to be getting regular visits from little green men or whatever, but there's something about this photo that makes me think it's real. It looks like 'alien' tech to me, and something that's not normally used for flying long distances. From the report it sounds like it stayed close to the ground / water and the discs were escorting it somewhere.

Originally posted by mythatsabigprobe
The update is very interesting. I always start doubting when these people claim to be getting regular visits from little green men or whatever, but there's something about this photo that makes me think it's real. It looks like 'alien' tech to me, and something that's not normally used for flying long distances. From the report it sounds like it stayed close to the ground / water and the discs were escorting it somewhere.

I like the "escort" theory mythatsabigprobe,

Would make sense if that was the case....and I also agree with the fact that this is a very strange looking craft, I mean sure were talking 1960's but did hovering aircraft like the harrier exist and was usable and flying around the Adriatic sea in 1961? and would it of been so silent?
curious none the less...

The possibility that the object is say, a close up of some kind of flying insect, a flying fish or maybe even a small prop used to hoax are also possible.

Interesting case, quadricle.

This is the first I've seen it, and my first impression is an object being suspended from above. Parts of the object are cutoff at the top of the frame, and it looks like another fin or shadow behind the first. The object appears out of focus while some of the waves underneath are more clear. The addition of more pictures of the discs would add more support to the case, but by itself IMHO this photo is questionable but interesting.

Regards.

Originally posted by quadricle

I like the "escort" theory mythatsabigprobe,

Would make sense if that was the case....and I also agree with the fact that this is a very strange looking craft, I mean sure were talking 1960's but did hovering aircraft like the harrier exist and was usable and flying around the Adriatic sea in 1961? and would it of been so silent?
curious none the less...

The possibility that the object is say, a close up of some kind of flying insect, a flying fish or maybe even a small prop used to hoax are also possible.

From what I found on aircraft history, they were developing harrier 'type' jets in the early 60's but they definitely weren't silent. I can't find the article now, but one comment on the modern harrier was "Boy, is that LOUD!".

If you look closely at the small 'wings' on the rear, they seem to be slightly detached from the body as if they're made to rotate into different positions. One is in the opposite position to the other in the photo. My guess is that they're more rudders than wings, creating more drag on one side to turn the vehicle in that direction. They'd be much more effective underwater if that's the case. The front 'wings' also remind me of hydro-foils, like the whole thing would make more sense flipped over.

This is indeed very interesting.. I find it very intersting that the craft was supposedly quiet and the guy experienced what he says ..." Around me the air seemed to be on fire, I felt as if I was engulfed in an intense electrical field and was feeling very agitated."

I would love to be able to see the other pictures this guy was able to take!

Sad this almost ended his career... Reminds me of what my Father said to me when we saw a UFO "Please dont tell any of my friends at work"

[edit on 11-5-2005 by GArnold]

Ok, this is my non-artists impression of this thing.

mythatsabigprobe that’s a great concept drawing of the craft, thanks for taking the time to make it and share it with us.....makes great sense...in theory

Would be a pretty ingenious method of designing a vehicle to be used in the different elements, I wonder if multi-function experimental crafts like this actually existed in the early 60's....




[edit on 11-5-2005 by quadricle]

very interesting picture.
it does look legit.
and that concept picture is great to.
looks like a good idea if no ones thought it up yet.

very interesting drawing indeed.
i wonder if on a physics point of view, such a thing could really fly, go on and under water.

I don't think it would fly very well with those narrow angled wings but with enough downward thrust it could probably get off the ground. It would be very inefficient and that's why I don't think it's made to fly very far.