The Ghost Plane Mystery
Reports of ghost planes in England….
High above the rugged countryside of the English Peak District and the rolling hills and valleys of Wales fly the mysterious ghost planes. Not the comings and goings of joint CIA and MI5 operations, rather the old English and American bombers of the Second World War, except there are no crew…..
Tales of legend abound of sightings of old bombers passing through the clouds without a sound, propellers revolving and yet the air was still. Each report would tell of a plane coming out of nowhere, flying overhead before vanishing from sight and sound. Mothers walking their children to school told of a huge bomber, rusty with no markings flying so low they ran for cover before watching it climb over distant hills and vanish from sight. No such plane which fitted their description existed they were told and if it did it would never be allowed to fly but something, they say flew over their heads and beyond.
There is an area in the Peak District known as England’s Bermuda Triangle, some fifty crashes and one hundred deaths over a stretch of moorland steeped in old folklore of witches and wizardry where the will o’ the wisp caused havoc with navigators and brought the planes crashing down at Dark Peak, a place it is said haunted by the spirits of airmen which defies scientific logic and reason.
Is there such a thing as a ghost plane? Have the authorities ever accounted for all of the missing aircraft and can so many from so many different places and backgrounds be so wrong? A flight of fantasy perhaps but I’m glad I won’t be flying over the Peak District (or Bermuda) anytime soon…
The Ghost Plane
Miles,
Hm, don’t know what to think? Did they appear under the radar? Well, just in case - I will not be flying over Derbyshire either!
I love the above photo.
Anne
November 8, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
Miles,
love the picture.
I was talking to someone a while ago and he mentioned the phantom Lancaster bombers in certain parts of Lincolnshire. They can be heard as clear as day and the sound is, as most know, unmistakable . . . nothing can be seen in the sky though !
It also sounds like a full squadron and there aren’t enough in flying order to meet the required numbers !
Spooky Stuff
Best
Rod
November 8, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
Miles,
There are more things in heaven and earth etc etc…. I’ve never heard anything like this though. Instead I am haunted by the eerie sound of next door’s macerating machine (or perhaps a full squadron?) Humming, general humming that’s what drives me mad…. I recently switched one of my hard drive control centres off only to find it had come on again by itself, finally though I unplugged the blighter and threatened it, since then it’s all quiet on the western front
Great shot Miles, would make an excellent book cover.
Cid
November 8, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
Hiya Miles:
No ghostcraft there - just an AWACS or as they are called these days a AEWCS - airborne radar detection systems that cover hundred or thousands of miles depending on the height and number of craft and how their surveillance systems overlap.
Guessing that your ghostcraft are out on training and surveillance from a regional base somewhere. By silhouette that looks like an RAF Sentry AEW1.
Kelley out . . .
November 9, 2009 @ 12:11 am
Laura,
Hell!! Truth be told I did know it was an AWAC because apart from a Vulcan it’s the only one I can identify…also it’s the only photograph I have of a plane…also (!) I waited until it was long gone before photographing it in case they thought I was up to no good. We are surrounded by air bases where I live which isn’t very reassuring in case of attack
Great comment, they fly over my house all of the time, it’s probably the local council checking I still live on my own and am entitled to single occupancy council tax!!
Miles
November 9, 2009 @ 10:30 am
Cid,
No humming here, just those dammed bells…”The bells, the bells”!!!
Miles
November 9, 2009 @ 10:31 am
Rod,
Not as spooky as that dual post thing again….
Miles
November 9, 2009 @ 10:31 am
Anne,
Thanks, I cheated and Laura caught me out
Miles
November 9, 2009 @ 10:32 am
Miles, et al.
No airplane sounds here at the moment (though the fire fighting aircraft and helicopters use a local airfield), nor humming, nor bells, but there is the beating heart sound coming from under the floor. To be honest, Edgar Allen Poe and his “Tell-tale Heart” jumped into my head as soon as I read this. Great reading for around Halloween. I used to frighten the bejeepers out of my students with his short stories.
Annie
November 9, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
Annie,
one of my favourite poems/verse.
I’ll take liberties with the recollection but . . .
On a midnight dark and dreary while I pondered,weak and weary
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore
Whilest I nodded nearly napping suddenly there came a tapping . . .
November 9, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
Rod,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“‘Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door —
Only this, and nothing more.”
Along another vein of your interests, I used to teach Poe as one of the initial detective story writers with his “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” I loved the atmospherics of his writing, and, especially loved reading them aloud.
Annie
November 9, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
Annie,
Some great contributions, thanks for giving the post some much needed kudos
Miles
November 9, 2009 @ 11:41 pm
Annie
ah ! Dupin !
http://www.classiccrimefiction.com/historydf.htm
Best
Rod
November 10, 2009 @ 9:10 am
Great story, Miles. Beautifully written and I love the accompanying photo. There is so much we don’t know.
N9781R
November 10, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
@Rod–Great summative article on the origins of detective fiction. You added to my knowledge, and I am truly grateful. I have a tribute shelf dedicated to Sherlock, and, of course, to Dame Edith. I have a meersham pipe, and magnifiying glass there, but still need to get the deerstalker hat (though we know that is an added “legend’). I am eager to see the new Sherlock film that will debut in December, though I will reserve judgment. Still like the Brett versions, and have watched the entire series many times over (the are a prized part of my DVD collection).
Sorry, Miles, we hijacked your posting.
Annie
November 10, 2009 @ 8:10 pm
@Rod,
As I was falling asleep last night, I suddenly realized that I said said Dame Edith instead of Dame Agatha. Sheeesshh.
Annie
November 13, 2009 @ 5:59 pm
Annie,
shouldn’t have said anything - you could have meant Ngaio Marsh
Cheers
Rod
November 13, 2009 @ 7:37 pm