Today in UFO History

July 13, 1860 – Wilmington, Delaware, USA:

Blue Cigar With Red Orbs Over Wilmington

On the evening of July 13, 1860, residents of Wilmington, Delaware, witnessed an extraordinary aerial phenomenon that would be remembered as one of the most unusual pre-airplane sightings on record. Without warning, a pale blue light bathed the city, drawing people outside to search the sky for its source.

What they reportedly saw was astonishing. Moving silently along a level course only about 100 feet above the ground was an enormous object estimated to be roughly 200 feet long. Following behind it, spaced at intervals of about 100 feet, were three intensely glowing red spheres. As witnesses watched, a fourth brilliant red ball suddenly shot out from the rear of the main object and took its place behind the others.

The mysterious lead object was also said to be emitting a shower of sparkling particles, "after the manner of a rocket," creating a spectacular display as it crossed the sky. It then turned toward the southeast, passed over the Delaware River, and continued straight east until it disappeared from view.

According to the Wilmington Tribune of July 30, 1860, the entire event lasted approximately one minute. Occurring more than four decades before the Wright brothers' first powered flight, the sighting remains one of the more intriguing historical aerial reports frequently cited by UFO researchers.