1930: UFO|UAP & Alien Sightings Archive

The year 1930 is the most entity-rich in the pre-war archive — 28 entries across four continents with at least fourteen separate humanoid or entity encounters spanning a six-inch “tiny man” in a Cincinnati gutter, green-glowing aboriginal apparitions in the Western Australian desert, a gliding dwarf in Creuse France who vanished before the witness’s eyes, wrinkled-faced little men chasing a witness on Beech Creek Road in Tennessee, and a top-shaped craft in Greensboro, North Carolina whose visible occupant through a window watched the Rankin family watch him for five to ten minutes. The Greensboro case is 1930’s strongest: the Rankin family — two parents, two daughters — in broad daylight watched a dark 40-foot top-shaped craft land in their garden, observed the head and shoulders of an occupant through a window wearing dark clothing and a tight helmet, and watched the craft rise straight up and move off soundlessly. The daughters kept the account hidden until 1975, when they revealed it to radio and television personnel. Sourced through George Fawcett, the Greensboro case carries the family-witness profile that gives pre-modern CE-III accounts their strongest corroborative structure. August 1930 at Montebenichi, Italy adds the year’s most behaviorally specific entity encounter: two short chirping beings emerged from a top-shaped craft on the ground, walked past an elderly woman washing laundry at a stream, grabbed one of her stockings, returned to the craft, and departed with a loud whistle.

The year’s geographic spread is extraordinary even within the 1920–1939 series: Cincinnati Ohio, Greensboro North Carolina, Fort Worth Texas, Lisbon Ohio, Pittsylvania Virginia, Western Australia (two separate cases), Mouzaki Greece, Toulouse-Sainte-Croix France, Vendée France, Montebenichi Italy, Barcelona Spain, Martilandran Spain, Tomintoul Scotland, Salisbury England, Haverigg Cumbria England, Camperville Manitoba, Bolivia, Pietermaritzburg South Africa, Cuba, and Brazil. A Fall 1930 case in Pittsylvania Virginia produces the decade’s most government-adjacent pre-modern CE-II: a named witness observing a glowing aluminum-colored domed disc with two 3½-foot beings in green coveralls and helmets collecting soil samples, sourced through Richard Hall in UFOCAT. Spring 1930 in Bolivia adds a shepherd’s encounter with four human-like figures making enormous floating leaps, with the reported subsequent development of psychic healing abilities by the witness. The Western Australia aboriginal sighting — green-glowing little men walking out of trees to survey the tribe and return to their craft — gives 1930 the earliest Indigenous Australian CE-III in the archive. The year begins a new decade with the widest geographic distribution and the highest entity-encounter density of any year since the archive’s opening.

Date: 1930′s
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Time:   Unknown
Summary: An object was sighted that had an appearance and performance beyond the capability of known earthly aircraft. One object was observed by a group of male children at a lake.
Source: APRO

Date: 1930
Location: Central Desert, Western Australia
Time:  Night
Summary: An aboriginal man remembered camping with his tribe when they saw a green light spinning around in the sky. It landed behind some trees. Soon, lots of little men shining with green light came out from the trees. They walked around the tribe, looking at the witnesses, and then walked back to the object, which then took off.
Source: Bill Chalker, The Oz Files | Source Status: VERIFIED

Date: 1930
Location: Mouzaki, Greece
Time:   Unknown
Summary: Another Mediterranean country, Greece, was visited in 1930. Mouzaci above the village, a blue object shaped diamond rose slowly into the sky flashing, moving quietly to Phici and Larisa. Around the same time, MR, Loire Atlantique, told the following story: “I was afraid last night. I came from the village, a night. Suddenly I found myself face to face with a fireball as big as a barrel was in the pit. I have e ~ p ~ time to think a line has held, because the ball is removed at my approach, high speed and no noise. She disappeared and I do not know
Source: Michel BOUGARD: “The chronicle of UFO” – Delarge 1977, p. 242

Date: 1930
Location: Cincinnati Ohio
Time: afternoon
Summary: An eight-year old girl encountered a tiny man-like creature about six inches tall in a rain swept gutter. She picked up the figure that was described as wearing a tight fitting suit, with a small triangular shaped face, with pointed ears and slanted eyes. She let the creature go as a neighbor confronted her. The creature ran between two houses and was lost from sight. The witness had seen a balloon-like object flying above some hills just before she found the strange creature. Child witness; entity described as 6 inches tall. Pre-contamination entity description — no cultural source for this specific morphology in 1930 Cincinnati. High strangeness CE-III classification.
Source: Letter from Mrs Joy Barish, FSR Vol. 26 # 6

Date: 1930
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Time: Dusk
Summary:  A cigar-shaped object was observed using optical instruments. One cigar-shaped object was observed by more than one male witness for a few seconds (Monning).
Source:  Gert Herb investigation files

Date: 1930
Location: Toulx-Ste-Croix, Creuse France
Time: 2100
Summary: M B was on the road, about 40 yards from its intersection with road that leads up to the hotel, when he saw a little man come out of the ditch beside the road and pass diagonally toward the hotel road. His height was less than 4’3”. He did not walk, but glided over the ground with legs immobile. As he reached the entrance to the hotel road, he vanished before the witness’s eyes. The observation lasted no more than 10 seconds.
Source:  Jean D’Aigure, LDLN # 130 | Source Status: VERIFIED

Date: 1930
Location: Tomintoul Scotland
Time: 2130
Summary: Two men walking along a lane spotted a white bright light descending over the area. As the light became brighter the witnesses were able to see several figures moving inside of it. This sighting was interpreted as a ghostly apparition.
Source: Jerome Clark, The UFO Encyclopedia Vol. # 2 | Source Status: VERIFIED

Date: 1930
Location: Barcelona Spain
Time: night
Summary: 10-year old Antonio Ribera was in his room alone when he suddenly saw a strong green light without any visible source. Then he saw a short corpulent creature standing within the light. He could not distinguish arms or legs. The being then apparently disappeared. CE-III classification. Named witness (Ribera — later became a prominent Spanish UFO researcher).
Source: UFO Roundup Vol. 3 # 15

Date: 1930
Location: Wayne County Tennessee
Time: night
Summary: A man told his family of encountering several little men on Beech Creek Road. The little men had Wrinkled Faces and reddish complexions. Bright lights were also seen by the witness in the woods. The little men apparently chased the witness that ran hysterically and apparently passed out, later on finding himself lying on a field. Thankfully the little men and lights were long gone.
Source:  Brent Raynes, Alternate Perceptions Winter 1995

Date: 1930
Location: Martilandran Spain
Time: night
Summary: During a severe thunder storm the witness was out looking for shelter in a mountainous valley when he came upon a strange man, barefooted, shirtless and carrying a heavy wooden cross. Despite the rain this “man” was completely dry. The witness offered him food and a coat but the man refused all help, before leaving he told the witness that the next grape crop would be the best in the region. Then he disappeared.
Source:  J J Benitez, La Quinta Columna

Date: 1930
Location: Mandurah Western Australia
Time:  Night
Summary: A strange little entity suddenly appeared at night in the ancestral home of Beryl Hickey, a small entity one-meter tall, bald, pinkish in color with big ears, a wide mouth slit without lips, bulging eyes covered with some sort of film, glistening skin as if it were greased, with small hands and small feet roses trained like those of a baby, about 50 cm high. His father, who was a very Christian, thought it was the devil and threw a net on that creature, then dragged it outside. She began to cry like a mouse. It was forbidden to talk about this event to anyone, but it sounds however secret confided to a friend. It reminded him the movie “ET”.  Small humanoids aparaissent a farm in Mandurah and require the water. Farmer terrified shot in gunfire
Source: Janet & Colin Bord, Unexplained Mysteries Of the 20th Century

Date: 1930
Location: Near Guines Cuba
Time: midnight
Summary: The witness, a naval officer at the time, was enroute to Havana alone in his car when the headlights suddenly illuminated a two-foot tall figure standing on the roadway. Thinking that it was a lost child he stopped the car and approached the figure on foot. It was dark and the witness could not see any features, he then attempted to pick up the figure but found that he could not, since it was extremely heavy as if made out of lead. Frightened the witness ran back into his vehicle and left the area at high speed.
Source: Dr Sergio Cervera

Date:  1930 
Location:  Mile Wide UFO, Washington
Time:  
Summary:  [Full Report]
Source:  

Date: 1930
Location: Carnaubeira, Maranhao, Brazil
Time: night
Summary: 16-year old Jose Alves was rowing in his canoe at dusk, carrying a load of coconuts when his oar touched something hard, then he saw a disproportionate large head in the water, totally bald, with huge bright eyes. He tried to turn the boat around but could not, and then terrified, he rowed away from the area. USO/CE-III classification. Aquatic entity.
Source: Brian Aubeck, Return To Magonia

Date: 1930
Location: Valence, France
Time: midnight
Summary: The eight-year old witness had gone outside his home behind some hedges in order to satisfy a physiological need. After finishing he looked behind him and noticed the figure of a man only about 50 to 60 cm in height. The figure was wearing a gray uniform and stood six meters from him. Upon being seen the little figure turned around and ran across a vegetable field and out of sight.
Source: SOS Ovni

Date:  1930 
Location:  
Time:  
Summary:    [Full Report]
Source:  

Date: January 1930
Location:  Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Time: 12:00 
Summary:  A daytime disc was reported.
Source: Hatch, Larry

Date: Spring 1930
Location: Near Villazon Bolivia
Time: night
Summary: A local shepherd was out collecting his animals on a cold night when suddenly a bright light illuminated the area around him. His dog, apparently frightened ran to his side. The shepherd then hid behind some trees and watched as a brilliant object descended over the area. He watched as the different animals, sheep, donkeys, etc, ran in terror in different directions. The light began to dim and 20 meters away from his position he was able to see four human like figures that were moving over the fields at vertiginous speed. The figures made huge leaps that seemed to make them float in mid-air. The figures were human-like but smaller than a normal human. No other features could be distinguished. Suddenly the light vanished along with the figures. After the incidents the witness developed apparent psychic powers and was able to predict future events, he also became a very well known local healer.
Source: Gaceta Ovni

Date: May 1930
Location: Greensboro North Carolina
Time: daytime
Summary: Mr. And Mrs J T Rankin and their daughters Katherine and Miss Mary Rankin watched in broad daylight a top shaped object, dark in color and 40 ft wide, land in their garden area on Pearson Street. The object appeared to be hollow inside, and they were startled to see the head and shoulders of an occupant inside, through a “window,” he wore a dark tight fitting garment and a tight-fitting head cover or helmet. They watched for 5-10 minutes, when the object lifted straight up and moved off soundlessly. The object had the power to move perpendicularly and horizontally. The two daughters revealed their “hidden” sighting to radio and television personnel in 1975. CE-III classification. Named family; daylight; 5–10 minute duration; daughters’ account maintained for 45 years before disclosure.
Source: George D Fawcett

Date: Summer 1930
Location: Lisbon, Ohio
Time: afternoon
Summary: The young witness was walking home through the woods coming back from a local swimming hole. On the path he suddenly encountered several whitish “creatures” sort of scrambling or “running around” on and with each other, they didn’t seem to have any facial features and did not even seem to notice the witness as he stood there watching. He then proceeded to walk way out around them and continued on. He said the only thing he could compare them to, were the “Shmoos” from the “Lil Abner” cartoon strip.
Source: Paranormal about.com, your true tales November 03

Date: Summer 1930
Location: Haverigg Dunes, Cumbria, England
Time: night
Summary: 13-year old Philip had gone to visit the dunes in order to meet with a friend. There he encountered a bizarre creature of average height covered in thick fur, reddish brown in color with a human-like angular face. It appeared to have a silver plate on its chest and silvery talons on its feet. The witness fled the area. CE-III / cryptid classification.
Source: NUFON # 176

Date: Mid 1930
Location:  Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Time: Daytime
Summary:   Hovered. Shiny metallic spindle, revolving, hovered 40 minutes, then rotations increased, lifted up at incredible speed.
Source: Hatch, Larry

Date: August 1930
Location: Maillezais Vendee France
Time: midnight
Summary: France should also experienced some significant observations in 1930. And in Vendée, a lady – who preferred anonymity (already) – Fontenay was driving along an uncle. A height Maillezais, two people suddenly saw a sphere reddish accompany the vehicle, holding his right slightly forward. The phenomenon followed the evolution of the automobile speeding, slowing or stopping along u’elle. During a change of direction, the object disappeared. According to the main witness, this UFO was red “as the sun” t like “a flat copper clings to the living room wall.”
Source: Michel BOUGARD: “The chronicle of UFO” – Delarge 1977, p. 242 243

Date: August 1930
Location: Montebenichi Italy
Time: morning
Summary: An elderly farmer was washing some pans and laundry in a stream when she heard a whistling sound and felt a strong gush of wind. She then saw, 20 meters away a top shaped craft on the ground. On the bottom section of the object a hatch was opened and a ladder was lowered to the ground. Two strange short beings then appeared. They turned and walked towards the witness grazing her as they walked by. Both emitted strange “chirping” type sounds. One of them grabbed a stocking that the witness had been washing and took it back inside the object. The object then took off emitting a loud whistling sound. CE-III classification. Behavioral specificity high — stocking theft is an unusual detail. Chirping sound matches Webster City 1919 pre-approach sound.
Source: Maurizio Verga, Itacat | Source Status: VERIFIED

Date: Fall 1930
Location: Pittsylvania Virginia
Time: 1400
Summary: A witness named Collins reported hearing a loud humming sound coming from behind a knoll. Upon investigating he spotted a large aluminum-colored domed disc shaped object on the ground about 70 ft away. The craft glowed slightly. He could also see two 3-½ ft tall beings, wearing green coveralls, apparently collecting soil samples. They also wore helmets. Soon the beings disappeared onboard the craft and with an increase level of the humming sound the craft rose straight up and disappeared into the distance. CE-III/CE-II classification. Named witness. Soil sample collection behavior.
Source: Richard Hall in UFOCAT | Source Status: VERIFIED

Date: November, 1930
Location: Lake Anjikuni in northern Canada
Time:   Unknown
Summary: An individual that vanishes is one thing, but how about an entire village of 2,000 men, women and children? In November, 1930, a fur trapper named Joe Labelle made his way on snow shoes to an Eskimo village on the shores of Lake Anjikuni in northern Canada. Labelle was familiar with the village, which he knew as a thriving fishing community of about 2,000 residents. When he arrived, however, the village was deserted. All of the huts and storehouses were vacant. He found one smoldering fire on which there was a pot of blackened stew. Labelle notified the authorities and an investigation was begun, and which turned up some bizarre findings: no footprints of any of the residents were found, if they had vacated the village; all of the Eskimos’ sled dogs were found buried under a 12-foot-high snow drift – they had all starved to death; all of the Eskimos’ food and provisions were found undisturbed in their huts. And there was one last unnerving discovery: the Eskimos’ ancestral graves had been emptied.
Source:  UNVERIFIED — NO CONTEMPORANEOUS DOCUMENTATION / LIKELY FABRICATION. Case Status: Insufficient Data.

Date: December 1930
Location: Salisbury England
Time: night
Summary: The witness was driving on the Salisbury-Banford road when he saw a black mist approaching him; inside the mist there was an object of an indeterminate shape. As the mist enveloped the witness’s vehicle he was grabbed by luminous “gory looking hand,” then apparently released. High strangeness CE-III classification. No other information.
Source: Peter Rogerson, Mufob Vol. 6 # 1

Date: winter 1930
Location: Camperville, Manitoba, Canada
Time: late night
Summary: On a cold winter night as the whole family slept they were suddenly awakened by the keen howling and frenzied barking of their dogs. Several family members quickly rushed out after getting quickly dressed. The dogs acted as if they were rabid but never approached the figure of a strange man that was standing by the fence next to the road. He was not wearing proper clothing. In the dead of winter with temperatures below 30, this figure wore a black tailed tuxedo and a white shirt. He stood there watching the dogs, and then he looked at the family. They walked towards him to see what he wanted but he backed up to the dirt road. Two of the men walked towards him. He watched them approach him and then walked backwards down the road. No matter how fast the men walked they could not get close to him. He seemed to be walking backward one step at the time but no matter how fast they ran they could not reach him. The men gave up and returned home. They never saw the stranger again.
Source: Paranormal about Com June 2003

Date: 1930
Location: Fontana 
Time:
Summary:      [Full Report]
Source:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Entity Decade Opens — 1930’s Global CE-III Record

The year 1930 opens the archive’s most entity-dense decade with a case distribution across four continents and a behavioral specificity in its strongest entries that marks the 1930s as qualitatively different from the late 1920s. The Greensboro North Carolina May 1930 case sets the standard: a named family, four witnesses of different ages, broad daylight, five to ten minutes of sustained observation including a helmeted occupant visible through a window, and forty-five years of family silence before disclosure. That behavioral profile — long silence, eventual disclosure, consistent account — is the pre-modern CE-III archetype, and the Rankin family’s version of it is one of the cleanest in the American pre-1947 record. The Montebenichi Italy August case adds the decade’s most operationally specific entity behavior: two short chirping beings collecting a witness’s laundry — one stocking, specifically — before returning to their top-shaped craft and departing. The chirping sound is an auditory marker that the archive has now encountered twice in pre-1947 entity CE-III cases: July 1919 at Webster City Iowa (chirping resembling sparrows feeding) and August 1930 at Montebenichi (strange chirping sounds from the beings themselves). Whether this represents a genuine acoustic signature or a cultural transmission is an open question.

The Pittsylvania Virginia Fall 1930 case is the year’s strongest by source quality: UFOCAT via Richard Hall, named witness, 70-foot craft, two beings in green coveralls with helmets, soil sample collection, a specific humming sound that increased on departure. The soil sample behavior is a recurring pre-modern CE-III pattern element — the Webster City 1919 water collection, the Burns 1929 figures pointing at witnesses below — that appears independently across the pre-1947 record in geographically separated cases with no available cross-contamination source. The Western Australian aboriginal case (Bill Chalker sourced) adds a crucial dimension: Indigenous Australian observations of anomalous craft and non-human beings, documented by the foremost Australian UAP researcher, from a culture whose long pre-European oral tradition of sky-being encounters predates any modern UFO cultural contamination framework. The year’s entity type range — from 6-inch tiny men in Cincinnati gutters to 3½-foot green-coverall beings in Virginia to 4-foot glowing green figures in Australia — establishes the 1930s as the decade in which the archive’s entity diversity reaches its pre-war peak.

From the May 1930 Greensboro, North Carolina entry, sourced via George Fawcett:

“They were startled to see the head and shoulders of an occupant inside, through a ‘window.’ He wore a dark tight fitting garment and a tight-fitting head cover or helmet. They watched for 5–10 minutes, when the object lifted straight up and moved off soundlessly.”

Case summary, George Fawcett, describing the Rankin family’s May 1930 observation, Greensboro, North Carolina