Birmingham UFO Group Case Report
Author: Dave Hodrien
Release Date: 03/11/2010
For reasons of anonymity pseudonyms have been used
Sighting Details
Late evening on the 18th July 2010, a couple from Dudley, Paul and Rachel had a sighting of an unusual looking object and managed to capture it on video. It was about 10pm and they had just gone up to bed. It was a relatively clear night with patchy cloud and a light breeze. Stars could be made out through the gaps between the clouds.
The view from their bedroom window looks out to the East and stretches for miles. Paul went over to close the curtains. It was at this point that he noticed a glowing orange light in the sky. It looked like it was no more than 150 feet in the air. It was travelling on a straight course to the North. Luckily the video camera was on the window ledge as he had been using it earlier in the evening. He immediately picked it up and began filming the object. He called over Rachel and they both continued to watch the object.
After it had moved about a quarter of a mile, the orange glow from the object suddenly ceased. They could still see the object, which now looked grey in colour and was disc-shaped. It began to slowly descend, drifting back and forth much like a feather would. It continued to do so until it had reached the ground and vanished from sight.
The couple continued to watch to see if it would reappear. After a couple of minutes they then saw another orange light in the distance. This one looked like it was over Wednesbury. They watched it for about a minute, after which it faded and disappeared.
Sighting Analysis
I have not yet received the video footage of this object; I hope to be able to watch it soon. However from the description of what took place I feel it is quite probable that this UFO was in fact a Chinese lantern. Lanterns appear as orange orbs of light at a distance after dark, and tend to drift on a straight course, their speed governed by air currents they get caught up in. When the light suddenly went out, it is likely this was the flame inside the lantern burning out.
Rachel says she and her husband believe that the object was a flying saucer because of the shape of it. But lanterns do come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Also the way that the object seemed to drift back and forth as it descended to the ground fits in with it being a light weight object that was no longer being kept afloat.
The second orange light that was seen a couple of minutes later was more than likely a second lantern being launched, as they are often launched in multiples from celebrations.
It is possible that if I get to see the footage I may well change my views, but from what I have been told I feel that Chinese lanterns is the most probable explanation for what took place. If I receive the video footage then with permission I will add it to this report.
Copyright Dave Hodrien 2010