There have been so many sightings of a rusty old plane across the region with people claiming they felt sure the craft was about to crash because it came overhead so low - that's according to the files of North Wales ufologist Margaret Fry.
She told Nick Bourne from the Web Team that one of the first recorded sightings of the so-called Phantom Plane was in 1987 in Abergele when a number of townspeople reported seeing the "war-time transporter" appear from nowhere and then vanish before them.
They described it as fat, very large and unmarked, a black hercules-type plane.
Phonecalls were made to RAF Valley, Anglesey, and nearby airfields, but no-one was apparently able to shed light on the sightings.
The most dramatic incident which came to the attention of ufologist Margaret Fry was reported by mothers in Llangernyw, Denbighshire, as they were picking up their children from school.
Several claimed they were sent running for cover as the plane - which they described as rusty, with no paint work - roared over their heads.
In the distance it followed the landscape and dipped down in the valley at such speed that the parents felt the plane was sure to crash, but they continued to watch as it pulled up and, with "great effort", it managed to make it over some distant hills.
Margaret said there was a shocked silence after the incident before locals began calling officials to try and find out what had happened to the plane."They were told that no such aeroplane would even be allowed to fly in that condition," said Margaret.
"So what was it, and where did it come from and vanish to?" she said. "To this day people still mention it.
"That seemed to be the end of our Phantom Plane - until October 1994 when reports started coming in from Wrexham."
In another incident on June 15 1994 at about 7pm a couple were driving over Denbigh Moors when the aeroplane appeared before them. They watched as it passed left to right in front of the car at an estimated 100ft off the ground, flying fairly slowly.
It then started to turn to the right giving the couple a full view of the craft but then it suddenly "vanished into thin air".
your comments
Jonathan Mellor from Stokesley
Me and several friend were on our DoE bronze expedition saw such a Hercules plane flying 100 ft above the ground, banking steeply. It promptly vanished, and we saw no more. We were in Kildale in North Yorkshire, can someone shed some light on this?
Tue Jun 23 14:49:11 2009
Steve Bishop , Warrington.
Did anyone see the hercules yesterday at about 4 oclock on the A483 near Llangernyw? I was in my van and it flew over about 100 ft up but I could still see it for about a mile it didn't disappear. I've seen it once before at Betws y Coed, when I was with my family. It hasn't got any markings anywhere and its definitely a hercules.
Fri Jun 19 08:21:39 2009
Denise Jones
I was driving to work in Cefn Mawr near Wexham a few weeks ago and as I drove along the A483 bypass towards the Llangollen turn off, over my head appeared a huge WWII plane, flying really low. It was just like the one in the picture. It was slient, not a sound. I watched as it flew above me, but because I was trying to keep an eye on where I was driving, I lost sight of it. When I got to work I asked if anyone had seen it. Needless to say they looked at me as though I had lost the plot.The plane flew right over me and headed off towards the Cefn Mawr/Acrefair region. No one had spotted it at all.Have I seen the "phantom" plane that is reported in the above article, or was there an actual plane, and did it just divert over where I was driving and fly off into the distance? I will never know, but because it was flying really low, 300/500 ft at a guess, I will be left wondering what really went on, and the silence of the engines will leave me with a big, and as yet, unanswered question.
Wed May 6 10:26:56 2009
Val from Belmont NH, USA
Hey Jan from NH, I saw the same type of plane on Thursday April 30th 2009 over Belmont NH heading toward Gilford. It was unmarked it was a huge plane like a cargo type? It was flying just over the tree line.
Tue May 5 09:23:51 2009
Jan from New Hampshire, USA
My daughter & I saw an old-fashioned solid grey airplane fly really low and almost silently above Belmont, NH yesterday. No markings. Looked like an old war plane. It was just above the tree line - disappeared over a hill. A second plane appeared immediately flying in the exact path -- just as low to the ground and just as quiet. It almost seemed to float over us.
Mon Apr 20 12:27:10 2009
G Burnell, Prestatyn
Hi, I have watched a Shackleton, some C130s and DC3s flying round the hills in the area over a few years, most of these seem to be on training flights or going to RAF Valley or Liverpool airport, other aircraft even stack up around the area before displaying at Southport airshow.
Fri Feb 20 09:53:28 2009
David, Betws y Coed
About 6yrs ago I was on the Drum, it was Dec or Jan weather was wet and cloudy - I saw what I believe was a Heinkle 111 flying low from direction of Great Orme towards Ogwen. It had pale blue undersurfaces, dark upper surfaces. I saw no insignia. I lost sight of it as it flew over Foel Gwrach. Couldn't hear engines, maybe because of the wind. I have been back a number of times and have seen Hercules planes fly over. It wasn't one of these.
Fri Dec 12 12:04:36 2008
Harry, Altrincham
Saw this and felt compelled to reply. In August 2006 I was driving out of Abersoch golf club (it was a clear, sunny blue sky day) when I saw a large war-type plane flying above me, approx 100 ft altitude. What shocked me was that it made no noise whatsoever, but looked like an old plane. It was a matt dark grey and seemed to look like a Hercules but bigger in size and just looked a bit worn and not in tip top condition. The plane simply flew into the distance out to sea to the West until it was too small to see and stayed low over the water all the way. One of the strangest experiences I have had. If it's phantom or RAF/US aircraft training, either way I'd love to know exactly what it was doing and why so low.
Mon Nov 17 08:09:06 2008
Ben Aldridge from Slough
I saw a rusty fighter plane from World War 2. It swooped and almost hit me, then it disappeared right in front of me.
Fri Oct 31 10:05:23 2008
Anthony, York
In January 2003 I was driving between Pocklington and Bolton in East Yorkshire at about 11am, it was a bright sunny day with good visibility. I looked to the right when I was approaching Bolton and Fangfoss (roughly east) and saw what I thought was a flock of birds in the distance, but after a few seconds I could tell they were planes from the smooth way they were flying and the great speed that they were approaching at about 500-700 feet from the ground. As they got nearer I could see they were DeHaviland Mosquitos, there must have been about 12 of them all together flying in a long jagged line, with one about half a mile behind which looked to be having trouble staying in the air... it was dragging its port wing quite badly, as if the engine had been damaged. Anyway they flew across the road a couple of hunderd yards ahead or me making no noise at all. It was so weird because I know there isn't a single airworthy Mosquito left, let alone a squadron of them. I lost sight of them behind a hedge and once my vision was clear they were nowhere to be seen. I don't want to look loopy but I really did see them, I wish I had my camera with me, I can tell you! Whenever I drive along there now I can't help but look to see if they will appear again.
Tue Oct 21 10:51:45 2008
Heulwen Renshaw, Anglesey
Last summer I was driving from the town of Llangefni out towards the A55, when I was overtaken a few feet directly overhead by a very old matt grey plane, I know nothing about planes but it reminded me of the ones used in war films, it was heading over the marshland towards Malltraeth. I don't frighten easily, but this incident was so unreal that I couldn't stop thinking about the vision for days afterwards. I asked a few friends if they knew about a low flying plane travelling in that direction but none had seen it. I havent mentioned it since, but I feel better about it now that other people have reported the same vision.
Thu Oct 16 09:15:19 2008
Terry Wilshaw, Dudley
I did some research lately and found that Wales was used by Americans in WW2 fighters, not bombers. They flew to Bristol Channel to patrol, ie practise before going to war. P47 P51s P38s hellcats and wildcats. The one I saw was a wildcat hellcat. Were these flying to airshows? Were there any flying in Rhyl, August 1980?
Tue Sep 30 08:32:38 2008
Terence Wilshaw, Dudley
Well, ghost planes in August 1980 on a clear day in Rhyl. I was with my sister looking for crabs in stones. I heard a plane coming over Llandundno at 1000ft. Just then as it neared us it dived as if to crash or straffe in ww2 terms. I grabbed my sister who was 6 to my dad who was there. I fell as the plane just raised up. I looked up and saw the pilot look out to us. Then the plane reared up then went - no sound at all. It vanished.
Tue Aug 26 07:55:22 2008
Red Barron
Hercules c130s, when flying low to the ground, do appear to 'come out of nowhere' and seem to disappear. Some are grey and appear to have no markings. They are also very quiet unless flying high. If you see one, stop for a moment and keep looking in the general direction of its path. I will guarantee you will see it again after a while. Just remember it is designed to blend in with the background. Look up photos of c130s on the web and see if it is the same shape as what you saw.
Wed Jul 9 15:16:28 2008
Vito
I heard a lot of crashes like thunder, the type of sound that was heard when the towers fell during 9/11. I am located in Staten Island, New York, and after I heard these thunder-like sounds I saw this grey plane maybe 200 feet in the air. After it turned and flew over my house it came back maybe 2 minutes later and my parents saw it also. We currently have a thunderstorm. Any ideas as to what that plane was?
Mon Jun 30 10:20:26 2008
Jones John, Wigan
In the history of aircraft crashes in Wales WWII. It reported that a b17 flew out of Burtonwood airbase, Warrington. Its job was to meet up with new aircraft out of Valley and to escort them back to Burtonwood. The link-up was made and all proceeded to turn back towards the USA base. Unfortunately, they were separated in low base cloud and mist. All brave souls were lost. I believe there were a dozen or so mixed type aircraft.
Mon Jun 30 08:18:00 2008
JOHN PRICHARD
I find these stories of ghost planes amazing and do not for one minute say they are untrue, however a lot of these sightings are in areas where there is a lot of military aircraft activity. North Wales is used by the RAF and American airforce for low level training and some of these sightings may be of aircraft such as the c-130 herc. They are large, some grey and produce a low drone like noise that could be mistaken for a old WW2 type aircraft.
Mon Jun 30 07:58:53 2008
Angela Redman from Chirk
I grew up in Brymbo, and in 1977 my dad who was tail end charlie in the Lancaster WW2 also saw this huge plane with no markings on at all. He admitted having a drink but the plane was so quiet and so very low he thought it was coming down onto the houses. I think this was a ghost plane despite all the critics. My reply to David in Chester is they no longer use Duralumin (Dural) for aircraft skins and components as it is too soft. Aluminium does rust, it is known as Aluminium Oxide. This comes from 32 years in the aircraft industry as an engineer.
Fri Jun 27 07:51:06 2008
Kenny Jones, Chester
It may interest you this bit of information. My late father was an armourer at RAF Hawarden, I think in 1947. I will check the date. I may be wrong, any how in the early '70s he took me to Hawarden war cemetery. On going past 7 graves of airmen who were all killed on the same day, he recalled with sadness that he was arming this huge plane and talking to the crew who were flying this plane on a training mission. After taking off from Hawarden he heard 3 hours later the same plane crashed in the Welsh hills killing all the crew. Could this be the ghostly plane that so many people see?
Tue Jun 24 08:38:06 2008
Neill, Southeast
Lots of stories of ghosty planes and such, but in this day and age of video/camera phones etc, it seems odd that no one has caught anything at all on film.
Mon Jun 23 09:23:13 2008
Kevin, postman Denbigh
About 18 yrs ago I was on delivery walking down Ruthin Road in the rain and cloud base was very low. Just as I was getting to the Ystrad Rd I heard the drone of a plane - the engine was propellor type and it semed to follow the line of the Denbigh quarry down Ruthin Rd and carry on towards Ruthin. Nothing odd about that you may say. But it was followed by another and another. In all I would say at least 20 piston propellor type aircraft came on this route. I never saw what they were because of the cloud. I often wondered what they were. Could this be some form of ghost squadron?
Mon Jun 16 08:18:48 2008
Kate
I think these planes very interesting. I believe in paranormal experiences and sightings. However, I would love to experience something like these sightings myself as I think that it would confirm my beliefs. When I'm older I might look into journalism as a job writing about ghost and alien related stories.
Fri Jun 13 15:15:26 2008
Steve Jones, Aberdaron.
I was having a picnic at the bottom of Mynydd Mawr on the Lleyn penninsula yesterday with my girlfriend, my daughter and her boyfriend. It was about 1430 hours and it was clear. We all saw a world war 2 type bomber suddenly appear and bank towards the ground showing its underneath. There was no engine noise and the plane was close. The plane was between us and Mynydd Anelog. We waited for the explosion but nothing and we ran to a rise in the ground but there was nothing. We compared notes verbally and we all saw it. Obviously we've looked it up and found this. None of us had been drinking.
Thu Jun 5 08:03:52 2008
John
I have seen a large big old plane just north of Barmouth and also seen an old biplane. Is this strange? Do they fly old planes in Barmouth? Also just out of interest on our last trip to Barmouth we were just driving home we where about 3 miles or so from Barmouth and my girl friend saw a man walking down the road she looked away for a second when she looked back he was gone, strange, anyone else seen anything like that?
Mon Jun 2 09:22:18 2008
Andy G. From USA
I saw this during my school year, almost 8 months ago from today. We were supposed to be running track field, and a somewhat loud plane almost 100-120ft off the ground was heading towards the outer tree line. It was really clear out, sunny. If I'm mistaken it had no painting, it wasn't a commercial kind of jet. I couldn't see any of the pilots, because I was looking at it in a different angle, rusty-looking, kind of green on the tips of the back rudder. But yeah, it does look like it was the B-25 that was used in the Second World War.
Mon May 12 08:44:01 2008
Hill, Worcester UK
In 1999, I dropped my daughter off at primary school in Worcester. (Incidently near an old airfield site). I was on a bus and the driver and myself were the only two people to witness this, I think, but I saw a black heavy/chunky plane that made no sound appeared from nowhere above the trees so low I thought it would surely crash! It was a plane that I had never seen before and did not look modern at all. As soon as it appeared it vanished. I asked the driver if he had seen it and he was as dumbstruck as I was but acknowledged he had. I would like to trace the driver (a local bus co) and I didn't tell anyone for ages because I was in shock but knew I had to find out more. I never reoprted it to MoD or police because I thought they'd think I was mad! Since that day I always been fascinated by the concept of time slips and anomilies because I now feel that I've actually witnessed one for real. I am very interested in WWII planes and also have other family connections to events in 1940 with regard to the Battle of Britain. I was relieved to hear that Dr.George Gregg also witnessed this although I saw the plane in the morning because I was on the bus that was taking me to Worcester city no. 38 or 34, I think.
Mon May 12 08:26:13 2008
Fattt (USA)
I think I saw one of the 911 flights go over my house but it disappeared shortly after flying over the Queens. It was missing a cockpit - all that was left was a jagged hole in the front! OMG! I forgot the airline on the side but there was definitely an airline name painted on the side. Has anyone else seen this?
Fri Apr 18 07:49:06 2008
Dr George Gregg (Bromsgrove)
I was driving from Worcester to Holt Heath in about 1999 (about 4.30pm) when I saw what looked like a large Hercules type plane fly low over the trees. I thought it was going to crash the other side of some house behind me. I saw it bank, looking as if it was turning, but looked too low only tens of feet off the ground. I turned back to see if I could find it but there was nothing to be found. I did not report it.
Tue Mar 18 08:16:53 2008
Paul Williams
I think those stories are real and scary because an areoplane that was reported in 1994 crashed and over ten years later it appears again, if I were here I would scream like a little girl and go bonkers and nearly faint. I have never seen that before but I know I would be freaked out.When I was about 11 when I was staying at my mum's parents' house in France I heard a man's voice and I was sure it would be a ghost. I was really freaked out, I suddenly felt soft and wimpy and I spent the rest of the night under the covers.
Mon Mar 17 09:56:20 2008
SQN Ldr Biggles, Lynham
As always we talk about conspiracy and the need for security, but flying special forces C-130's equipped "Fat Alberts" at low level its bound to scare the civillians, but we need to be be able to be able drop off and pick up our boys. So we do look rusty in the sun, and shadowy at night. It's not meant to scare you, or make the UFO brigade get extra converts... it's just about flying low and safe, for our country's defence.
Fri Feb 15 08:28:15 2008
Andrés, Wirral
I've have also seen a similar plane, not rusty though, it was almost completely black, came from nowhere and went nowhere. This was at Arrowepark on the Wirral, flying adjacent to Wales. It was loud, low and slow. I thought it looked like a B-25 bomber from the 2nd World War.
Wed Feb 6 08:39:13 2008
Randolph, near Nuremburg
Two points to make, when the C130s were flying out to Bosnia and Kosovo (very close to our village) they never fooled around with low flying, or had the special motor-propellor combinations for silent flying. They were just getting on with business, hauling freight. When the hostages were in Iran (Carter was Pres.) we had a C130 stationed out in the desert there. The story is it was chucked full of electronics and invisible to radar, and the way I heard the story from a supervisor in the aircraft industry, it was almost impossible to detect in any way, shape or form.
Tue Jan 29 08:38:50 2008
Steve Jones, Powys
One evening last summer I saw what was definitely a Hercules transport plane. In the evening sun it did indeed look rusty red, also it was just far enough away to look as if it was hardly moving and silent. Could this be an explanation for some of the reports? I am not dismissing anyones sightings, I find them fascinating and keep an open mind on the subject.
Mon Jan 21 08:00:39 2008
Rifle Jack (USA)
Chill out. Latest "stealth technology"! When we disclosed the B-2 and the F-117 do you think for an instant we stopped there?
Mon Jan 7 10:19:34 2008
Zubin from Maryland
If this is happening for real, why doesn't the local govt or central govt look up the history to find out if during war time did any cargo planes crash into the neighbourhood.If people are seeing it so it has to be real. Now the question is why is the plane appearing out of nowhere?
Thu Dec 27 08:07:07 2007
Jim, Dorset
Some interesting stories!
Wed Dec 5 07:55:21 2007
Mary Heath
Does this only seem to occur in Europe? Because I will never forget seeing something like this probably 30 years ago, on the central coast in California. I was at Lake Nacimiento with a friend and looked towards the Lake, when suddenly there was this huge, old fashion looking plane gliding just above the water. I was so startled that I just watched for a second or two, then turned to my friend and asked her if she had seen it. She hadn't. And there was no explanation for it. It was so low that I just knew it would crash into the water and there was not enough flat land for it to rise. But it just disappeared into thin air. I had thought when I first saw it that it was one of those planes that gather water to fight fires. But it was so low, so large and moving so slowly, that there was no way it could not have crashed. It made no sound. That was the spoky part. I will never, ever forget it. It was my one experience with the paranormal. There is no other explanation for it.? Has anyone ever seen anything like this in California, USA?
Mon Nov 26 09:06:40 2007
Ben Martin from Anglesey, North Wales
My mum was telling me the other day that when I was about 4 years old, we were walking on the beach near Llandwyn Island, Newborough, Anglesey - when a "war plane" came at us "from nowhere", she pulled me with her as she dived for cover, being sure it was going to hit us, but at the last second it pulled up over the headland. When we reached the lighthouse and the old warden's cottages she asked a workman if he had seen the plane, his reply was that he hadn't, although the cottages are in line of sight of where we had been "attacked". I have no recollection of this, but I believe this was the "ghost plane" mentioned on this page.
Mon Nov 12 14:12:18 2007
Gary from Wrexham
I was travelling towards Wrexham on the A483 coming from Oswestry about 3 weeks ago. As I approached the Johnstown turn off I noticed a plane on my left at a height of no more than 100-200 foot. It was grey and had no markings at all. I lost sight of the aircraft for a short while as it went behind a large bank. I expected to see the aircraft when the view from the road was unobstructed but there was no sign of it. As the time of day was about 5.30pm and it was still light I had a clear view of the plane. I am not aware that the position I saw it in is a regular flight path for commercial airlines. I was not aware of the ghost aircraft mentioned on this page until after I had seen the aircraft myself. I have an open mind about what I saw but I know I am certain that I did see this plane that did look unusual.
Thu Nov 8 09:15:20 2007
Bethan Smith
I saw this plane when I was coming back from Wales. It was really dark and I looked out of the window and there was a massive plane just above the trees. It had no lights on or anything, it was really scary.
Fri Nov 2 11:18:49 2007
Glyn
I saw this plane in 1991 at the BICC factory in Wrexham Industral Est as I was about to enter the the building. It was jet black and it made no sound. I could not believe how low it was it was below rooftop level. The time was 13:50 and I saw it again at the same time next day. I saw it one more time in 1995 at 13:45 flying over Holt Road, it was just above the rooftops of a housing estate.
Wed Oct 3 08:39:41 2007
Corey, Coedpoeth
Is this true? Could it just have been a modern RAF plane or a plane in an airshow? Or is it the so-called spirits in the war trying to tell us that there is something coming?
Mon Sep 3 09:45:28 2007
David, Chester
Materials used in aircraft outer skin construction (wood, fabric, dope, aluminium, Duralumin, carbon fibre composites, etc.) are all non-ferrous and do not rust. The metals used all corrode in non-ferrous ways (pitting, etc.), and never appear rusty. With Airbus Industries as its biggest employer, "Wales North East" should know this better than most other BBC areas. Rusty brains appear to be the main phenomenon here - perhaps "dope" does not just apply to vintage aircraft construction.
Tue Aug 28 11:44:19 2007
Hayden Ellsum
I have read with interest about the phantom planes seen around North Wales. This also is true, but I believe was REAL, more than phantom. When my wife and I moved to Maesydail Newtown, Powys, we did see a Hercules Plane flying over the new industrial estate behind our house. It must have only been 30 to 40 feet above the ground, and was flying east west and seemed massive because we were so very close to it. The year was 1978, but as I say this was real. They do still use them, don't they?
Thu Aug 23 14:18:24 2007
Chris Carter, Haworth
At about 3.45pm yesterday I was driving across an old moorland road between Oxenhope and Halifax when a plane appeared over the hillside in front of me. It was pale grey and old fashioned looking with a fat body and was so low to the ground, I thought it was going to crash. It carried on to my left and banked to the right, still low over the hill. I waited for it to reappear but it didn't. I'm wondering just what I have seen. Not aware of any air displays.
Mon Aug 6 10:55:59 2007
Viktor Lovriĉ, Croatia
Hi! I am 11 years old. About the ghostly plane - I have never seen it because I am not from Great Britain, I am from Croatia. But about ghostly things I read all on internet. I can find pictures of every ghost activity. I never seen that plane, but I believe it exists.
Tue Jun 26 08:59:24 2007
Charlie, Rossett
Last week I was at my nanna's house down Harwoods Lane in Rossett and saw a plane through the window. It was an old fashioned plane which was all grey with no paint work on it. It was like the fighter planes I have seen in war films. It was flying level to the upstairs window and was huge. My nan didn't see it or hear it yet it was right in front of her - only I could see it. There was something making me feel uneasy and when I looked back it had smoke pouring out if the left wing. My nan swears even now that she never saw or heard it but it was definitely there! The other odd thing is in the field by where I saw the plane there is an air raid shelter. Can anybody shed some light on this?
Mon Apr 30 08:13:50 2007
Tom Hanson, Stafford
While in Barmouth last year I saw something similar. It was getting dark and me and my mate were leaving the campsite to the north of Barmouth to walk into town. We stopped near the lifeboat station. the sun had gone down at this point but there was still some light in the sky. As it was fairly quiet we could hear a distant drone of an approaching aircraft. This, in itself is not unusual here, however within 30 seconds the plane had reached us. It was flying no more than 10 metres above the beach and no lights were visible.We watched the spooky silhouette fly down towards the harbour and it then banked sharply to fly up the Mawddach estuary and out of view.It was a very eerie sight and we both thought it odd at the time that an old prop plane should be flying about at that time with no lights showing and at that height.It wasn't until I discovered this website that it occured to me that it could be an 'Acorah Airways' flight!Anyone else seen anything like this in Barmouth?
Fri Apr 20 14:08:04 2007
Len P. Birkdale
Would Paul Palin please conatct me re his sighting? Cheers. I'm an writer/ investigator of these sorts of things and if this occurred in the Merseyside area I'd like to hear more about it. Cheers. Omit the word SPAM from the following address signalnorthspam@aol.co.uk
Wed Mar 21 08:31:20 2007
John Bracegirdle from Prestatyn
The most amazing thing about this story is at least 3 WW2 crash sites exist in and around Llangernyw. But I still think it's the modern day fly boys.
Wed Feb 14 14:52:16 2007
We're no longer accepting comments on this page but we're still interested in your ghost stories about NE Wales
