In 1943, an RAF pilot training over Manitoba, Canada experienced a truly extraordinary encounter that defies conventional explanation. While flying solo on a clear moonlit night, the pilot observed what appeared to be a small humanoid figure, described as resembling an elf or pixie, climbing onto and inspecting the nose of his aircraft. Despite traveling at approximately 130 miles per hour, the 18-inch tall being seemed completely unaffected by the slipstream.

The encounter, which lasted just over a minute, was later investigated by Richard Cattle of the Southampton UFO Group who initially doubted the story. After thorough background checks and multiple consistent retellings, Cattle concluded the pilot was credible. Perhaps most intriguing was the pilot's later discovery that he wasn't alone in his experience—a senior instructor confided that several airmen had reported similar sightings, suggesting these mysterious encounters may have been more common than officially acknowledged.

Key Takeaways

An RAF pilot reported a detailed sighting of an elf-like being on his aircraft during a 1943 training flight over Canada.
The humanoid figure appeared solid, reflected light, and remained unaffected by the aircraft's speed or wind conditions.
Investigation revealed other pilots had similar experiences, suggesting a pattern of unexplained phenomena rather than an isolated incident.

The Military Aviator's History

Former Military Pilot William Davis

William Davis, a retired RAF pilot from the Isle of Wight, reported an extraordinary aerial encounter while flying over Manitoba, Canada on September 10, 1943. As a trainee pilot, Davis was completing his final solo night navigation exercise between Brandon and Lake Manitoba before qualification. The conditions were ideal—clear skies, good moonlight, and light snow on the ground providing excellent visibility for navigation.

Davis had strong credentials as both a navigator and pilot. He emphasized that he was under no stress during this routine flight, as stress-related issues would have resulted in immediate disqualification from the training program. His confidence was high knowing he had essentially completed his training requirements.

While flying his Anson aircraft at approximately 130 miles per hour, Davis noticed something unusual. Initially spotting what appeared to be two small protrusions on the nose of his aircraft, he was startled when these "lumps" began moving. To his astonishment, what he described as an "elf or pixie-type creature" climbed onto the nose of the plane.

The entity stood about 18 inches tall with European features and a well-trimmed beard. It wore what Davis called "stereotypical" clothing reminiscent of century-old pixie illustrations, including a blue-gray pointed leather hat. Davis noted several remarkable details:

The entity wasn't affected by the aircraft's slipstream despite the high speed
It reflected both the aircraft's navigation lights and moonlight
It appeared solid rather than transparent
The creature seemed to be conducting some form of inspection

After approximately one minute, the entity simply sat down and jumped straight off the nose of the aircraft, disappearing from view. Davis initially kept this experience private, fearing ridicule, but later shared it with trusted colleagues. The following day, a senior instructor approached him saying, "You're not going mad, don't let it worry you son, you're not alone either. Several of us have seen them."

Verification of Military History

Richard Cattle, an investigator with the Southampton UFO Group, personally vetted Davis's account after it was reported in September 2007. Initially skeptical due to the fantastic nature of the claim, Cattle conducted a thorough background check on Davis.

The investigation confirmed Davis's exemplary military record and found no history of mental illness. Multiple tellings of the story revealed consistent details, matching an earlier written account Davis had produced.

Cattle noted several puzzling aspects of the encounter:

Investigative Findings Details Physical impossibility Entity unaffected by wind/speed at 130 mph Aircraft performance No alteration to flight dynamics despite presence Witness credibility Davis described as open-minded with scientific interests Corroborating evidence Written documentation supported verbal account

The investigator ultimately concluded that while the encounter defied conventional explanation, Davis was truthfully reporting what he had experienced. Davis himself maintained that the incident might eventually be explained through scientific means, demonstrating a pragmatic approach to his extraordinary encounter.

1943 Aerial Encounter Details

Nighttime Training Exercise Over Manitoba

In September 1943, specifically on the 10th, a pilot named W. Davis was conducting a solo night navigation training flight over Manitoba, Canada. He was flying an Anson aircraft on what would be his final qualifying flight before certification. Davis reported feeling completely at ease during this routine exercise, noting that he had confidence in his navigation skills and was under no particular stress. The flight path took him from his base at Gimli, near Lake Winnipeg, to Brandon and back again. Weather conditions were optimal with clear skies, good moonlight, and light snow on the ground which enhanced visibility for navigation purposes.

Observation of an Unusual Phenomenon

While flying between Brandon and Lake Manitoba on his return leg, Davis noticed something extraordinary. During one of his routine instrument and horizon scans, he spotted what appeared to be two unfamiliar protrusions on the nose of his aircraft. Initially dismissing them as something he had overlooked, he continued his scan. Upon returning his gaze to the nose cone, Davis was astonished to see that these "lumps" were moving and appeared to be hands. The pilot observed this phenomenon while traveling at approximately 130 miles per hour, yet remarkably, neither the aircraft's handling characteristics nor the entity itself seemed affected by the slipstream.

Characteristics of the Diminutive Figure

The being that Davis described exhibited several distinct features:

Size: Approximately 18 inches in height
Attire: Wore a leather pointed hat (blue-gray in color) and clothing comparable to traditional pixie depictions
Appearance: Male with a well-trimmed, full beard
Physical properties: Appeared solid, reflecting both moonlight and the aircraft's navigation lights
Behavior: Moved deliberately across the nose of the aircraft as if conducting an inspection

The entity remained visible for slightly over a minute before sitting down on the nose of the aircraft and then jumping straight down past the propellers, disappearing from view. Later, Davis learned from a senior instructor that other pilots had reported similar sightings, suggesting this was not an isolated incident. The experience was subsequently documented and investigated by Richard Cattle of the Southampton UFO group, who found Davis's account to be consistent and his background to be credible.

Pilot's Response and Observations

First Doubts and Technical Assessment

The RAF pilot initially responded with rational analysis when noticing unusual protrusions on his aircraft's nose during a routine night training flight in September 1943. Flying solo over Manitoba, Canada between Brandon and Lake Manitoba, he first observed what appeared to be two small bumps on either side of the aircraft nose. The pilot's training immediately kicked in as he mentally noted this anomaly, planning to document and investigate it upon landing.

His professional instinct was to question what he was seeing, given his thorough knowledge of the Anson aircraft's design. The nose section should have been empty, making these unexpected features particularly puzzling. Despite the strangeness, he remained calm and methodical, a testament to his training and experience.

Close Examination and Physical Details

Upon closer inspection, the pilot observed what he described as an 18-inch tall humanoid figure climbing onto the aircraft's nose. The entity displayed several remarkable physical characteristics:

Appearance characteristics:

Approximately 18 inches in height
Male in appearance
Well-trimmed, full beard
European features
Wearing a pointed leather hat (blue-gray color)
Traditional clothing reminiscent of folkloric depictions

The pilot conducted several reality checks to verify what he was witnessing. He closed and reopened his eyes, pinched himself, and carefully observed whether stars were visible through the figure (they were not). Most remarkably, the entity seemed completely unaffected by the aircraft's slipstream despite traveling at approximately 130 miles per hour.

The figure reflected light from multiple sources - the green port light, red starboard light, and moonlight. From his close vantage point, the pilot could discern fine details such as moonlight reflecting between individual beard hairs, suggesting substantial physical presence rather than an illusion.

After approximately one minute of what appeared to be an inspection, the figure simply sat down on the aircraft's nose, placed its hands on either side, and jumped straight down, disappearing from view despite the aircraft's altitude and speed.

The pilot later learned from a senior instructor that similar sightings had occurred among other airmen, suggesting this was not an isolated incident.

Aftermath of the Aerial Encounter

Discussions with Fellow Pilots

After returning to base, Mr. Davis initially kept the extraordinary sighting to himself. He feared ridicule from his peers and potential questions about his mental fitness for flight duty. The unusual nature of seeing an 18-inch humanoid figure on the nose of his aircraft during a routine training mission was not something easily shared. However, after having a few drinks to calm his nerves, he carefully selected trustworthy colleagues to confide in. These fellow pilots provided a supportive environment where he could process the bewildering experience without immediate judgment or mockery.

Support from Command Personnel

The following day brought unexpected validation when a senior instructor officer specifically sought out Davis in the barracks. This high-ranking officer approached him directly with a surprising question: "Are you the airman that saw that little man last night?" When Davis confirmed, the officer offered reassurance with the remarkable statement: "Well look, you're not going mad. Don't let it worry you son, you're not seeing things and you're not alone either. Several of us have seen them." This astonishing revelation suggested multiple similar encounters had occurred among the flight personnel. Military protocol prevented Davis from questioning the senior officer further about these other incidents, but the brief conversation provided significant comfort that his experience wasn't unique or indicative of psychological issues.

Investigation by Richard Cattle

Validating Davis's Account

Richard Cattle, an investigator with the Southampton UFO Group, received a remarkable report from former RAF pilot W. Davis from the Isle of Wight. The incident, which occurred on September 10, 1943, initially struck Cattle as too fantastic to be credible. However, after thorough background verification and multiple interviews with Davis, Cattle found himself convinced of the pilot's sincerity.

Davis's military record proved exemplary, with no history of mental health issues. Written documentation of the incident, created earlier by Davis, matched his verbal accounts perfectly. The consistency of Davis's story across multiple retellings further strengthened his credibility.

During his investigation, Cattle noted Davis's scientific mindset and openness to rational explanations. Davis himself acknowledged that future scientific developments might eventually explain his extraordinary encounter.

Analysis of the Aerial Phenomenon

The encounter occurred during a routine night training flight near Lake Manitoba in Canada. Davis, flying an Anson aircraft, observed what appeared to be an 18-inch tall humanoid figure on the nose of his plane. The entity resembled traditional depictions of elves or pixies, complete with a leather pointed hat and period-appropriate clothing.

Several aspects of the encounter defied conventional physics:

The figure was unaffected by the aircraft's 130 mph slipstream
The entity cast reflections from the aircraft's navigation lights and moonlight
The creature appeared solid (stars weren't visible through it)
The airplane's handling remained completely normal
The figure eventually jumped directly into the propeller wash without harm

Particularly noteworthy was Davis's subsequent interaction with a senior flight instructor, who assured him: "You're not going mad... several of us have seen them." This suggested other pilots had experienced similar phenomena.

Cattle struggled to reconcile the reported observation with known aerodynamics. The presence of a solid object on the nose should have affected the aircraft's performance, yet Davis reported no handling changes. The creature also seemed purposeful in its behavior—conducting what appeared to be some form of inspection before departing.

Concluding Thoughts and Analysis

Possible Scientific Interpretations

The encounter described by Mr. Davis in 1943 presents an extraordinary phenomenon that challenges conventional understanding. Several scientific hypotheses might explain this unusual sighting. One possibility involves a rare atmospheric phenomenon creating a solid-looking projection on the aircraft nose. Light refraction under specific atmospheric conditions, particularly with moonlight and aircraft navigation lights, could potentially create three-dimensional optical illusions that appear solid.

Another consideration is the interaction between electromagnetic fields generated by aircraft and naturally occurring electromagnetic phenomena. These interactions might produce unusual visual manifestations under certain conditions. The fact that the entity didn't affect aircraft performance suggests it had no physical mass or aerodynamic impact, supporting a non-material explanation.

The reported entity's ability to withstand high-speed wind conditions without disturbance further indicates this wasn't a conventional physical object. Research into plasma formations and their stability in varying atmospheric conditions could potentially offer insights into similar apparitions reported by pilots.

Evaluating the Psychological Testing Theory

The possibility that Mr. Davis experienced a controlled psychological experiment merits examination. Military aviation programs during World War II were known to conduct various tests on pilots, though typically with their knowledge. The corroboration by a senior officer that others had witnessed similar phenomena suggests this wasn't an isolated incident designed to test one individual's psychological resilience.

If this were a psychological experiment, several questions remain unanswered:

Purpose: What valuable data could be collected from such an elaborate deception?
Methodology: How could such a realistic hallucination be induced in pilots during active flight?
Ethics: Would military authorities risk pilot safety by potentially distracting them during solo night flights?

The consistency of Mr. Davis's account over time, his exemplary military record, and the lack of personal gain from sharing his experience all suggest genuine belief in what he witnessed. His professional training as a navigator and pilot would have made him a particularly reliable observer, accustomed to precision and accurate reporting.

The senior officer's confirmation that multiple pilots had similar experiences significantly reduces the likelihood of this being a psychological experiment, as implementing such a program across multiple flights and pilots would require extraordinary resources and coordination.

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