150 ft snake congo

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As Lt. He is considered a hero of World War II and a flying ace. In , as full Colonel, he commanded the air base at Kamina in the African Congo. While there, in the Katanga Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while returning from a mission by helicopter, he encountered a Giant Congo Snake emerging from a hole as he flew over the forests, describing the snake as being close to 25 feet about 5 meters in length, earning its place among the largest snakes ever reported. Upon the incredible discovery, he then turned around and made several passes over the snake at a lower altitude in order to allow another person on board to photograph the creature.

150 ft snake congo

In the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, returning from a mission by helicopter, he reported having seen an enormous snake as he flew over the forests. He described the snake as being close to 50 feet in length with a 2-foot-wide by 3-foot-long triangular head, which, if his estimations were accurate, would earn the creature a place among the largest snakes to have ever existed. Colonel Van Lierde described the snake as having dark green and brown top scales and a whitish-colored underside. Upon sighting the reptile, he had the pilot turn around and make another pass, at which the serpent reared up the front ten feet of its body and head as if to strike, giving him the opportunity to observe its underbelly. However, after flying so low that Van Lierde believed it to have been within striking distance of his helicopter, he ordered the pilot to resume his journey, and so the creature was never properly documented, although some reports suggest that an onboard photographer managed to snap a shot of it. It is believed to be either a massively oversized African rock python, a new species of snake entirely, or perhaps a descendant of the giant Eocene snake Gigantophis. An interview with Colonel Van Lierde about the sighting can be found here. Cryptid Wiki Explore. Beast of Gevaudan Ozark Howler Wolf. On the Map. Media and more. Explore Wikis Community Central. Don't have an account? Current Wiki.

He was arrested for illegally crossing the border, and was confined in various Spanish prisons, including the notorious concentration camp at Miranda de Ebro.

In he became one of the first Belgians to break the sound barrier while test flying a Hawker Hunter at Dunsfold Aerodrome in England. He went on to hold several important commands before retiring in Van Lierde was born in Overboelare , Belgium, on 14 August He first trained as an observer, but began pilot training on 1 May , [2] qualifying in April He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment. Van Lierde was staying in hospital during two weeks and could not take part in the further fighting because on 28 May Belgium surrendered.

He had flown in over missions, his eyes trained to spot friend and foe below. That skillset that would help him with the ensuing ordeal over the Katanga region of the Congo, for what he saw next shocked him and his copilot: A truly gargantuan snake, estimated by his account to be over 50 feet in length. This measurement would easily have made it the largest snake alive on Earth, dwarfing today's titans of the slithering world, like the green anaconda and the reticulated python. Green anacondas average around 15 feet in length; reticulated pythons, meanwhile, have been known to regularly stretch beyond 20 feet , according to the Natural History Museum in London. But experts are less convinced. Is this Congo cryptid really on the frontiers of science, or merely a wartime illusion? According to experts, there's no scientific evidence that a foot snake exists. Still, Van Lierde's wild story — which continues to circulate on podcasts and internet forums today — captures our collective fascination with the biggest snakes who ever lived. It could have easily eaten a man.

150 ft snake congo

You can also add newsletters iflscience. IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out our Privacy Policy. An artist's impression of Van Lierde supposedly encountering a giant snake in the Congo rainforest. Van Lierde claimed that in he encountered a giant greenish-brown snake while flying over the Katanga Province of the Belgian-occupied Congo now Democratic Republic of Congo by helicopter. As an experienced pilot, Van Lierde argued that he was extremely skilled at gauging the size of things on the ground from the sky. He said the helicopter dipped down within 9 meters 30 feet of the snake below, at which point it "raised up" its neck by around 3 meters 10 feet and eyed-up the chopper for a bite. The head, I would say was certainly 2 foot wide and 3 foot long. Along with this first-hand account, Van Lierde also managed to snap a photograph of the sight.

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As Lt. Cancel Save. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment. He was credited with shooting down or destroying 44 flying bombs solo, with another 9 shared, making him the second highest-scoring "doodlebug" killer. He is considered a hero of World War II and a flying ace. Van Lierde was staying in hospital during two weeks and could not take part in the further fighting because on 28 May Belgium surrendered. What cryptid are you? The female typically outweighs the males. Nevertheless, he eventually escaped, and reached England on 22 July In the Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, returning from a mission by helicopter, he reported having seen an enormous snake as he flew over the forests. His last victory, a Messerschmitt Bf bomber was claimed on 30 November, bringing his score to 6 kills and 1 destroyed on the ground. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. Sign In Register. An interview with Colonel Van Lierde about the sighting can be found here.

In Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, returning from a mission by helicopter, he reported having seen an enormous snake as he flew over the forests.

Current Wiki. Sign In Register. In , as full colonel, he commanded the air base at Kamina in the Belgian Congo. Beast of Gevaudan Ozark Howler Wolf. Media and more. Van Lierde claims that as he flew lower for a closer inspection, the snake rose up approximately 10 feet 3. This drab pattern blends the snake in well with the wet, dense vegetations of its habitat. Upon sighting the reptile, he had the pilot turn around and make another pass, at which the serpent reared up the front ten feet of its body and head as if to strike, giving him the opportunity to observe its underbelly. In , as full Colonel, he commanded the air base at Kamina in the African Congo. It grabs its victim and pulls it underwater, drowning the prey. Current Wiki. Along with this first-hand account, Van Lierde also managed to snap a photograph of the sight.