The Airship Wave of 1896-1897
The airship wave of 1896-1897 Mystery airship illustrated in the San Francisco Call, November 1896 The best-known of the mystery airship waves began in California in 1896.[6] Afterwards, reports and accounts of similar airships came from other areas, generally moving eastward across the country.[6] Some accounts during this wave of airship reports claim that occupants were visible on some airships, and encounters with the pilots were reported as well.[6] These occupants often appeared to be human, though their behaviour, mannerisms and clothing were sometimes reported to be unusual.[5] Sometimes the apparent humans claimed to be from the planet Mars.[5] Historian Mike Dash described and summarized the 1896–1897 series of airship sightings, writing: Not only were [the mystery airships] bigger, faster …
