Portugal: Some 20th Century Cases

 

 

Unusual Heavenly Phenomena in Portugal: A Historical Roundup

by Dr. Rafael A. Lara Palmeros, CEFP (Mexico)

 

      Portugal is no exception when it comes to unusual heavenly phenomena. For many years now, and in a number of countries, these events which have become known as UFOS, were called "pillars of fire", "sky monsters", "circular luminous bodies", etc.

      The following is a presentation of some of these extraordinary phenomena:

      * Estación de Casa Blanca, Montemor el Nuevo. 14 September 1946: At 4 p.m. on this day, an enormous disk casting off a greenish iridescence appeared in the skies over this community. The strange phenomenon, which was witnessed by a great number of railroad passengers, remained motionless for approximately 5 minutes after which it turned southward before vanishing altogether (1).

      * Viana de Costelo, 17 September 1946. Shortly after 21:00 hours, a luminous body much greater and shinier than a star passed over this city, traveling in a north/south direction. The phenomenon was a cause for great wonderment among the population, giving rise to opinions among the population that it was somehow related to the some of the "mysterious luminous projectiles which have been mentioned in the press lately." (2).

      * Lisbon, 15 December 1946. At approximately 18:40 hours, a curious luminous projectile was seen traveling at an extraordinary altitude, leaving in a brilliant wake in its path. The object followed a southerly trajectory from the northeast. It gave the impression of being some new kind of "flying bomb", having great range and tremendous speed, similar to those which have been reported over the Scandinavian  peninsula and other parts of Europe. Duet to the time, the putative missile travelled along the coastline resembling a meteorite, going unnoticed by the majority of this city's residents. (3).

       Comments

       As we have noted, these events are centered in the "pre-modern age of ufology", considering that after Kenneth Arnold's sighting in June 1947, the whole world would become aware that the skies above were filled with strange objects catalogued by many as extraterrestrial spacecraft.

      Sightings in Scandinavia, Brazil, France and other nations made us aware that Man has always been accompanied by this strange phenomenon -- which remains a mystery to us until the present day.

 NOTES:

 1. Diario do Noticias. 15 September 1946. Lisbon, Portugal

2. Diario do Noticias. 18 September 1946. Lisbon, Portugal

3. Diario do Noticias. 16 December 1946. Lisbon, Portugal