The Flying Saucer Frenzy of 1950 | TBPL Research Blog

Unidentified flying objects in our Thunder Bay skies have been a phenomena scattered throughout our city’s history.  To promote January’s National Science Fiction Day, let us tell you the story of the Flying Saucer Frenzy of 1950.  

This tale begins March 14, 1950 in Geraldton, with a casual observer of the night sky noticing a “flying saucer” traveling southward before being lost from view.  Ten days later, a similar event took place. A Fort Frances couple witnessed an unusual object, approximately 200’ off the ground, “streaking through the air” over the town. These events were strange, but had plausible explanations. Days later, plausible explanations became harder to justify as a flurry of sightings began causing quite a stir.

Between 7:35-7:50pm, the evening of March 28th, people of Fort William and Port Arthur reported sightings of a soundless saucer-like object gliding at great speeds through the night’s sky, progressing westward. Accounts and descriptions varied, but what remained consistent was the circular or spherical shape and the fiery vapor trail it emitted. Reports described the unknown craft as being 8’ to 60’ in diameter, being bluish-green or silvery-blue in colour.  

It was days later when the extent of the March 28th sightings was known. Local news stated that a similar craft was seen soaring above Terrace Bay, Shabaqua, Atikokan (Steep Rock Iron Mines) and Kawene, within the same time window. The people of the district were abuzz as discussion of and speculations about the UFO(s) dominated the local scene. As this was happening, newspaper reports of flying saucer sightings across the world had reached a fever pitch, leading to formal accusations against the US government, which were immediately denied.  

These strange sightings continued. In the afternoon, March 29th, reports from the public and airport officials described a brilliant white star-like object flying over Lake Superior only to be joined by four more identical objects. All five UFOs traveled back towards the airport, circled, and left in a northeast direction. The mysterious objects were said to be “traveling at terrific speeds”, changing trajectories while flying, and operating in a non-linear manner. The very next day, upwards of six of the same white stars flew past the inter-city area with three returning for a short time hours later. These objects were estimated to be 125’ in diameter and flying between 4000-10000’ above ground. Within days, residents of Thunder Bay were witness to two distinct types of unexplainable aeronautic phenomena.  

A week later, the first evening since March 30th that was not overcast, a variety of people witnessed yet another unidentified craft resembling the mysterious flying saucer from March 28th. With no answers, only questions, this would be the last sighting in 1950. Was it aliens from another world?  Was it a meteor? Was it the government testing a secret groundbreaking aircraft?  Could it be mass hysteria or a mass illusion?  We will most likely never know but our curiosity will never cease.

If you would like to learn know about UFOs spotted in the skies of the Lakehead or anything else Thunder Bay and Thunder Bay District related, contact us at research@tbpl.ca