Declassified UFO / UAP Document
Swedish Balloon Sighting
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AI-Generated Summary
A 1896 telegraph reports a sighting of the Andrée balloon at coordinates 55.15, 127.40 in Canada. The sighting was later determined to be a misidentification, as the actual balloon did not launch until 1897.
This document, dated August 11, 1896, is a Canadian Pacific Railway Co's telegraph addressed to Smith, the High Commissioner for Canada in London. It conveys a report from an Indian Agent in Victoria regarding a sighting of what was believed to be the Andrée balloon. The Swedish government had previously informed Canada in May 1896 of their intention to launch a balloon from Sweden toward the North Pole in the early summer of 1896, requesting that any sightings be reported to assist the explorers. Although the balloon's departure was delayed until July 1897, at which point it crashed on pack ice, many sightings in Canada and the USA during 1896 were erroneously attributed to this expedition. The specific report in this telegram cites credible information from two Indian parties, who, despite being separated by a long distance, observed the balloon at latitude 55.15 and longitude 127.40, traveling on a nearly northerly course. The telegram concludes with an instruction to advise the Swedish Minister.
Credible information received by Agent Lomis from two Indian parties separated by long distance at time of observation that the Andrée's balloon had been sighted lat. 55.15 long 127.40 pursuing a nearly northerly course.
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Witnesses
Key Persons
- SmithHigh Commissioner, Canada, London
- Agent LomisIndian Agent at Victoria
- AndréeBalloonist