Constable Kettle's airship over Peterborough

Police Constable Kettle reported a cigar-shaped craft over Peterborough on 23 March 1909, the start of the 1909 airship scare.

Police Constable Kettle said that late on 23 March 1909 he saw a craft over Peterborough that he called "strange" and "cigar-shaped". The Daily Mail printed his account. A powerful light caught his eye, he said, which he judged to be roughly 1,200 feet up. He also made out a dark, narrow, oblong shape against the stars. His friends were sceptical.

A Mr Banyard, and separately a Mrs Day, both from the town of March close by, reported a like sight two nights after. A Miss Gill described a bright flashing light overhead to the Evening News. These reports were only the start. Several dozen sightings followed through April and above all May, chiefly in East Anglia, with some in South Wales, and many people in that region were said to have seen the visitor.