Mihal Grameno’s UFO sighting of 1907
In 1907, amid Albania’s fervent struggle for independence from the Ottoman Empire, the country bore witness to what is considered the first recorded UFO sighting, reported by none other than the prominent Albanian nationalist and writer Mihal Grameno. This wasn’t a casual observation but a compelling account from a seasoned individual accustomed to scrutinizing his surroundings under high-stakes conditions.
The Sighting: A Shiny Enigma in the Albanian Sky
Mihal Grameno documented the event in his memoirs, recounting how ”One night, while the fighters of Çerçiz were stationed at the top of a high mountain,” a ”shiny object flew in front of us, stood suspended in the air for several minutes, and then disappeared.” The sighting took place in a remote, mountainous area, offering a clear, unpolluted view of the night sky.
The object was described as ”shiny,” suggesting a reflective or luminous surface. Its most remarkable characteristic was its ability to hover stationary for ”several minutes” before vanishing. This behaviour was far beyond any known human technology of 1907. Early aeroplanes, like those developed by the Wright brothers just four years prior, were rudimentary, noisy, and incapable of sustained hovering. Dirigibles and balloons existed but didn’t match the description of a ”shiny object” that could simply disappear.
The account also implies a silent operation, as no sound was mentioned. Crucially, the sighting was witnessed by multiple individuals – ”the fighters of Çerçiz” – lending further credibility to Grameno’s report.
Who Was Mihal Grameno? A Patriot with a Pen and a Rifle
Mihal Grameno (1871-1931) was a pivotal figure in Albania’s quest for independence. Born in Korçë, he was a prolific writer, journalist, and poet, whose works passionately advocated for the Albanian cause. Beyond his literary contributions, Grameno was a man of action. In 1907, he famously joined the çeta (guerrilla group) of Çerçiz Topulli, a revered leader of the Albanian independence movement.
His experiences fighting in the mountains were meticulously documented in his writings, including ”The Albanian Uprising,” which provides invaluable insights into the daily lives and struggles of the independence fighters. It is within these historical memoirs that the enigmatic 1907 UFO sighting is recounted, making his testimony particularly compelling due to his dual role as a keen observer and an active participant in a high-stakes struggle.
Possible Explanations: Terrestrial or Unexplained?
The search for conventional explanations for Grameno’s 1907 sighting quickly runs into dead ends. As noted, the state of aviation technology at the time makes any known aircraft an improbable candidate. The object’s ability to hover silently and then disappear rules out early aeroplanes, which were loud, rudimentary, and incapable of such manoeuvres.
Atmospheric phenomena like meteors or comets can also be dismissed, as they do not suspend themselves in mid-air for extended periods. The possibility of lanterns, kites, or early experimental balloons is also unlikely, given the described ”shiny” nature of the object, the implied silence, and the remote, mountainous location far from technological centres.
This leaves the sighting firmly in the realm of the truly unexplained. For many, Grameno’s account serves as an intriguing historical data point within the broader history of UFO observations, suggesting that unidentified aerial phenomena have been witnessed across various cultures and time periods, long before modern aviation or the popularisation of ”flying saucer” concepts.
While definitive proof of extraterrestrial visitation remains elusive, such historical accounts challenge conventional understandings and contribute to the enduring mystery of what might have graced our skies throughout history.