The UFO files extract

Flying saucers over Farnborough
In 1950 Stan Hubbard was an experienced test pilot based at the Royal Air-
craft Establishment at Farnborough, site of one of the aeronautical indus-
try’s most important annual events, the September air show. On the
morning of 15 August, a dry, clear summer’s day, Flight Lieutenant Hub-
bard was walking along the airfield runway towards his quarters. He later
recalled his attention was attracted by what he described as ‘a strange dis-
tant humming sound’. I had the chance to interview him in 2002 and he
remembered then how, turning to investigate, he saw in the direction of
Basingstoke an object that looked
‘for all the world like the edge-on view of a discus, the sort of discus we
used to throw at sports day in school … and it was rocking from side to
side very slightly … but maintaining a very straight approach. That was
something that has stuck in my mind very clearly, vividly, to this day.’17
As it approached the airfield the sound emanating from the object increased
in intensity to become ‘a heavy, dominant humming with an associated sub-
dued crackling-hissing … which reminded me strongly of the noise inside a
large active electrical power station.’ He continued:
‘It was light grey in colour, a bit like mother of pearl, but blurred. It was
obviously reflecting light because as it rocked it looked like a pan lid as
you rotate it, with segments of light rotating around. And I could see that
around the edge as it went overhead, it was a different colour, it had a
T H E F LY I N G S A U C E R A G E 4 3
FIg.14 RAF test pilot
Stan Hubbard, whose
1950 sighting triggered
a secret investigation by
the MoD.