Hi all, this is a slightly bizarre topic but I can’t think of anywhere better to ask this – not least because of the number of ex servicemen here.
Over the years, from talking to my parents, they every so often mentioned seeing something when they were taking a flight from Ireland, where we live, to either Germany, or the UK in the mid 1970’s. The details have become a little sketchy over the years, as one would expect, but they’re absolutely positive that they saw something missile shaped, rather near their aircraft.
Now, it appears that this sighting happened over the Irish sea. They both agree that it had a rounded nose, and nothing approaching the kind of wings needed by a manned jet aircraft. On that subject, I tried showing them pictures of an F-104 from a few angles, but they’re both in agreement that it was nothing like that.
So I’ve dug up some pictures of various British Surface to Air missiles of the period, and nothing has quite fit the bill. But the nearest thing, that they agree on, is that it looked most like the English Electric Thunderbird.
The basic description is that it was dark/silvery, it was climbing and was near their aircraft. The missile had a slightly snub nose (not sharp) and tapered towards the back. They also both more or less agree that if there were any wings, they were only on the tail. The impression they both have is that the missile was around the size of a fighter aircraft.
When they saw it, they were at altitude and both agree it was still climbing.
Anyway – this is a bit of bizarre thread, if anyone can turn up some suggestions or anything, it would be most appreciated.
I also showed some pics of the Trident and Polaris missiles, but they both agree that they’re both too fat to have been the one they saw.
By: shadowpuppet - 14th February 2009 at 16:04
Cheers for the replies folks.
I’m more or less resigned to not finding out what it was they saw.
30+ years haven’t helped the memories and they’re not aviation buffs to begin with 🙂
RE: The Aer Lingus Viscount coming down off Tuskar Rock; certain people always seem to veer towards the mysterious conspiratorial explanation. They get a perverse pleasure off it I think.
Bleh.
Anyway thanks again.
By: scotavia - 24th January 2009 at 14:54
Yes , it was a theory regarding the loss of a Viscount West of Strumble. The theory is only that and from my own experiences at Aberporth it is an outlandish insulting theory. The safety team at RAE Aberporth were disgusted at being accused of accidentaly shooting down an airliner.
By: BSG-75 - 24th January 2009 at 12:18
isn’t there a theory about an Irish airliner being hit by an English missile somewhere over the Irish Sea?
am heading out and don’t have time to google before I brave the shops with the kids…. late 60’s/early 70’s – Viscount ?
By: Arabella-Cox - 24th January 2009 at 12:02
On a slightly different track. I flew to and from Ostend from Newcastle in 1960 and remember flying over a Bloodhound site. It was quite impressive to see but I never could work out which of the sites it was. North Coates was one possibility but not the only one.
Jim
By: scotavia - 24th January 2009 at 11:55
Another idea is that it could have been a towed target, the towing aircraft can be 2/3 miles away and the towline is not easily seen. The Tow aircraft could be gaining height near the edge of the range near the airway.
By: scotavia - 24th January 2009 at 11:50
Possibly a drone, the two airways crossed South and North of two weapons test ranges. I worked at Aberporth radar and watched the very careful safety checks prior to a test fire of Thunderbird and Bloodhound missiles. We could clearly see airways traffic and no firing was allowed if any unknown air activity was in the range.
The puzzle is that even the drones were fast movers in relation to an airliner and would not be allowed to get close enough for concern.
I would instead say that it was a military jet from Valley or Brawdy having a close look at the airliner.
By: DaveF68 - 24th January 2009 at 10:59
Lightning would be my guess as well.
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd January 2009 at 23:02
Sightings
Could it have been one of the many Lightnings on test from Warton? These were flown over the Irish sea.
They wouldn’t have allowed unmanned missiles anywhere near passenger aircraft not least for safety reasons.
Anon.
By: shadowpuppet - 23rd January 2009 at 22:45
They’re both saying that it wasn’t that particular drone.
I hadn’t even considered looking into drones so thanks for suggesting it.
Anyway, just asked about the speed, and they both said extremely quick and still climbing.
It all points to a missile, but I haven’t been able to dig up anything that fits the bill. Again, this is just 30+ year old memories, so it’s most probably not exact, so I’ll probably never find anything that’s 100% spot on.
Thanks for the replies.
By: WG-13 - 23rd January 2009 at 22:38
Both Thunderbird and Bloodhound were long, and thin, with sharply pointed noses, and if one had passed close to the aircraft it would have been travelling extemely fast, so my money would have to be on a rogue Jindi.
By: Ant.H - 23rd January 2009 at 22:28
Possibly a Jindivik target drone? They were certainly used over the Irish sea.
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January 23, 2009 at 10:25 pm