South Newport, Wales being encounter — May 19, 1909

A report attributed to the South Wales Daily News of May 21, 1909, places an unusual aerial sighting at Maindee, Newport, two days earlier. W. Beighton’s young daughter reportedly noticed a large object coming from the direction of the Bristol Channel. She likened its movement to a large bird flapping, although it also appeared to remain stationary at times. Other observers joined the sighting, and one used a telescope. The account attributed to that observer describes an object roughly 12–15 yards long with three men aboard. It reportedly remained visible until about 8:30 a.m. This morning timing conflicts with the Atlas catalogue’s 8 p.m. entry. Carl Grove later reproduced the newspaper reference in Flying Saucer Review, volume 17, number 1, in 1971. The story belongs to Britain’s 1909 airship-scare period. Later interpretations have suggested an airship, misidentification or fabrication, but the particular object has not been securely identified. The plate follows the daylight account and shows distant human occupants rather than extraterrestrial anatomy. Its airship-like form is contextual: the surviving description does not establish a precise hull design, propulsion system or seating arrangement.