Buzz
War is frequently described as a living hell, but what would hell be without its share of terrifying creatures? This might explain why some of the most unbelievable monster sightings in history have occurred during periods of intense conflict and chaos.
10. The Mysterious U-28 Sea Crocodile
During World War I, the British vessel Iberian was sailing near the Irish coast when it came under attack from the German submarine U-28 (shown above). Despite attempts to escape, the Iberian was relentlessly pursued by U-28, which fired shells and torpedoes. After sustaining two direct hits, the ship tilted upward and sank, its bow rising into the air.
This event might have faded into obscurity if not for an article penned by the U-28‘s captain, Baron von Forstner, in a German newspaper in 1933. The Baron recounted standing on the submarine’s conning tower as the steamer sank. Approximately 25 seconds after it submerged, a massive explosion occurred, likely from the ship’s boiler. The blast propelled a strange sea creature out of the water. He described it as “roughly 20 meters [65 ft] long, resembling a crocodile, with powerful front and hind limbs suited for swimming, and a slender, tapering head.” The Baron claimed the creature was visible for “10 to 15 seconds in broad daylight, at a distance of about 150 to 100 meters (500–300 ft).”
Bernard Heuvelmans, a Belgian zoologist and pioneer of cryptozoology, regarded the U-28 sighting as one of the most credible in history. The incident was particularly notable because the explosion launched the creature completely out of the water, providing a full view of its body. Based on the Baron’s description, Heuvelmans theorized that the animal could be a surviving member of Thalattosuchia, an ancient genus of marine crocodiles from the dinosaur era.
Despite Heuvelmans’ endorsement, skeptics argue that the Baron may have fabricated the story. According to his account, seven other crew members saw the creature, but six perished during the war, likely when the U-28 was destroyed in 1917 (reportedly by an exploding ship that hurled a burning truck onto the sub). The sole surviving witness, the submarine’s cook Robert Maas, never documented the event, leaving von Forstner’s testimony as the only source. Moreover, none of the 61 survivors from the Iberian reported seeing the creature, though they were understandably preoccupied at the time.
9. The Legendary Morbach Monster
The German town of Wittlich is the setting for a bizarre tale—one that might hold some truth, according to US soldiers stationed there. Legend has it that a deserter from Napoleon’s army arrived in the town, where he brutally killed a local farmer and his wife. With her dying breath, the farmer’s wife cursed the soldier, transforming him into a monstrous wolf. Consumed by fury, the beast terrorized the countryside until townspeople banded together to hunt and kill it.
This tale is fairly well-known (even inspiring a local American football team named the Morbach Monsters), but it’s not particularly unique in the realm of werewolf folklore. What makes it more intriguing are the accounts from American servicemen stationed at Hahn Air Base during the Cold War. Several soldiers reported encountering a mysterious wolf-like creature while patrolling the forested areas near the base.
Two anonymous reports gathered by the University of Pittsburgh detail an encounter where military policemen, responding to a perimeter alarm, came across a “dog-like” creature. The animal reportedly stood on its hind legs, stared at them, and then took “three long, leaping steps” to clear a tall fence (the exact height varies in the accounts, but all agree it was taller than a person). The creature vanished into the woods, and a sniffer dog brought to the scene became so terrified it refused to follow the trail.
Anthropologist Matthias Burgard from the University of Mainz documented additional accounts from US servicemen who claimed to have seen strange animals or unusual movements in the forest. One airman reported being “stalked” by a hidden, howling creature while walking his dogs. Another witness dismissed the idea that the sightings could be attributed to wild hogs, stating, “I grew up on a farm in the USA, and this was no hog.”
Another serviceman shared a different theory with Burgard about some of the sightings: “We used to have fun scaring new recruits with tales of the werewolf and then sending them on foot to check the perimeter. One of our K-9s was a massive black bouvier with bloodshot eyes. We’d always have that dog’s handler meet the new guys.”
8. The Phantom Hound of Mons
In 1919, several Oklahoma newspapers ran a chilling account from Canadian World War I veteran Captain F.J. Newhouse. He claimed that Allied soldiers stationed in the trenches at Mons were stalked by a fearsome creature. The ordeal began in 1914 when Captain Yeskes of the London Fusiliers led a patrol of four soldiers into no-man’s-land. When they failed to return, their comrades assumed they had been captured by German forces. However, days later, “their bodies were discovered—dragged down with bite marks on their throats.”
The situation escalated from there. Eerie howls echoed across the battlefield, and soldiers reported strange movements beyond the barbed wire. Patrols venturing into no-man’s-land were later found brutally mauled, as if attacked by a massive animal. Then, just as mysteriously as it had appeared, the creature vanished.
The mystery was finally unraveled when a German scientist named Gottlieb Hochmuller died during a riot in Berlin at the war’s end. Documents found among Hochmuller’s belongings revealed a sinister plan to transplant a madman’s brain into a massive Siberian wolfhound, which was then set loose in no-man’s-land. This was part of a series of experiments Hochmuller believed would “secure victory for Germany.” However, how a deranged dog was expected to influence the outcome of a global conflict remains a mystery.
Interestingly, while Captain Newhouse appears to have been a real soldier, the rest of the story quickly falls apart. For instance, there’s no evidence of a scientist named Gottlieb Hochmuller, and there was certainly no Captain Yeskes in the London Fusiliers. The name Yeskes is rare in England but more common in Canada and the US, suggesting that F.J. Newhouse likely fabricated the entire tale.
The Battle of Mons is also famous for the legend of the Angels of Mons, where angelic figures, often depicted as medieval archers, were said to have protected British troops. This legend originated from a short story by horror writer Arthur Machen, published in the London Evening News in 1914. Written as a fictional news report, the story was mistaken for fact by many readers. Over time, the tale grew into a widespread belief, with many refusing to accept that Machen had invented it. As Machen later noted, “the snowball of rumor that began rolling then has only grown larger and larger, reaching monstrous proportions.”
7. The Miniature Bigfoot
British zoologist John McKinnon gained recognition in the 1990s for his role in discovering three new mammal species in Vietnam’s Vu Quang Nature Reserve. However, in his 1974 book In Search Of The Red Ape, McKinnon hinted at the possibility of an even more remarkable creature inhabiting the rainforests of Southeast Asia.
McKinnon recounted an experience while trekking through Sabah, Malaysia:
I froze in my tracks, stunned by what I saw. Kneeling to inspect the unsettling footprint, I felt a chill run down my spine. The print resembled a human’s but was distinctly not human. The toes and heel appeared almost human-like, yet the sole was too short and wide, and the big toe was positioned opposite the arch. It was deeply unsettling, and I felt an overwhelming urge to leave.
McKinnon’s Malay boatman identified the tracks as belonging to the “forest people” or “Batatut.” However, McKinnon chose not to pursue the matter further: “I was uneasy upon discovering the prints and had no desire to follow them to their source. I knew no known animal could have made those tracks. Without consciously avoiding the area, I never returned during my months of research.”
McKinnon’s account brought greater attention to the Batatut legend, the so-called “Little Bigfoot” said to roam the jungles of Indochina and Borneo. This may explain an unusual encounter detailed in Kregg P. J. Jorgenson’s book Strange But True Stories of the Vietnam War. According to Jorgenson, six unnamed American soldiers deep in the Vietnamese jungle spotted a strange, ape-like creature about 150 centimeters (5′) tall, covered in red hair, and walking upright. Initially thinking it was an orangutan, they soon realized orangutans don’t inhabit Vietnam. The creature disappeared quickly, leaving the 101st Airborne Division without a potential new mascot.
6. The Legendary Brosno Dragon
Situated about 400 kilometers (250 mi) south of Moscow, Lake Brosno is a moderately sized yet remarkably deep lake with a storied past. Legend has it that a fearsome group of Tatar horsemen, en route to plunder Novgorod, stopped by the lake to rest. Their peaceful break was shattered when a massive reptilian beast emerged from the water, attacking both men and horses. Interpreting the dragon’s appearance as an ill omen, the Tatars abandoned their plans and retreated.
While this tale leans into myth, accounts of a monster in Lake Brosno persist, earning “Brosnya” the title of Russia’s Loch Ness monster. In 2002, a Russian UFO group launched an expedition to scan the lake with sonar, detecting a “large, jelly-like mass” near the lakebed. True to Russian fashion, they tossed an explosive at it, causing the mass to rise rapidly. Fortunately, upon inspection, “there was no sign of a monster,” saving them from the Tatars’ fate.
Soviet skeptics have proposed scientific explanations for the serpent sightings. One theory suggests that hydrogen sulphide accumulating at the lake’s bottom occasionally surges to the surface, creating bubble eruptions that could be mistaken for a creature. Another possibility is volcanic activity releasing gases from the lakebed. Alternatively, some sightings might simply be elk swimming across the water. However, even the largest elk couldn’t explain the tale of Brosnya allegedly leaping from the lake to swallow a German plane whole during World War II.
5. The Legendary Congo Snake
Colonel Remy Van Lierde, a Belgian pilot celebrated for his daring achievements during World War II, gained fame not only for escaping a German POW camp and becoming an RAF ace but also for a remarkable encounter years later. While returning from a mission in the Congo, Van Lierde claimed to have seen a colossal snake from his helicopter. He described it as “dark green with a white underside” and estimated its length at 15 meters (50 ft).
According to Van Lierde, the snake reared up as if preparing to strike the helicopter (luckily, he was flying high enough to avoid danger). He even captured a photograph of the creature, which has since become iconic in cryptozoology. However, the image is blurry and lacks any reference points to confirm the snake’s size, leaving its true scale unverified. Despite this, Van Lierde remained adamant, asserting that the creature was massive and “could have easily devoured a person” if it chose to.
4. The Mythical Kraken
The kraken, a squid-like sea monster from Scandinavian folklore, is one of the most famous mythical creatures globally, even appearing in several popular Hollywood films in recent years. The discovery of giant squid in the ocean’s depths has fueled speculation that some kraken sightings might have been inspired by encounters with truly massive cephalopods.
One of the most striking “kraken” encounters occurred during World War II, when a British trawler was anchored near the Maldives. Crew member A.G. Starkey was on deck one night when he noticed something in the water and shone his flashlight on it: “As I stared, captivated, a circle of green light appeared within the beam. I suddenly realized this glowing, unblinking orb was an eye. The water’s surface rippled with an unusual disturbance. Slowly, it dawned on me that I was looking directly at an enormous squid.”
While this account starts plausibly, Starkey then claimed he walked the length of the ship, finding the squid’s head and tentacles at opposite ends. This would imply the creature was 53 meters (175 ft) long—over three times the size of the largest recorded giant squid. Strangely, Starkey didn’t call for others to witness the colossal beast, leaving his story without corroboration.
3. Maskelyne’s Scarecrow Monster
Given the numerous reports of wartime monster sightings, it’s unsurprising that some overly eager officers attempted to create their own. One of the most notable instances took place in the Philippines during the 1950s. Colonel Edward Lansdale, an Air Force officer and intelligence operative, orchestrated various psychological operations against the Communist Huk rebels. At one point, this included staging a vampire attack.
As recounted in Lansdale’s memoirs, a Huk squadron had entrenched themselves on a hill, resisting local troops. Lansdale decided to exploit local fears of a shape-shifting vampire called an aswang. “The psywar team set up an ambush along a trail frequented by the Huks. When a Huk patrol passed, the ambushers quietly captured the last man. They punctured his neck with two holes, drained his blood, and left the body on the trail.” By morning, the Huks had fled.
Of course, Lansdale’s account is the sole source of this story, leaving its veracity open to interpretation. Another dubious tale comes from World War II, when the British enlisted stage magician Jasper Maskelyne (pictured far right) to deceive the Germans with elaborate camouflage and tricks. While his role in the war is factual, Maskelyne’s memoirs, filled with exaggerated claims, are widely regarded as unreliable.
During the Sicily invasion, Maskelyne alleged he created “a massive scarecrow-like device, standing 12 feet tall, capable of staggering forward and emitting terrifying flashes and noises. This contraption frightened several Sicilian villages, appearing at dawn and thundering through their streets with electric blue sparks. The mostly illiterate villagers fled to neighboring towns, convinced the devil was leading the British advance.” In both cases, clever Western operatives executed remarkable deceptions, though whether they fooled locals or the reading public remains debatable.
2. Russia’s Version of Bigfoot
Not satisfied with having their own Loch Ness, Russians also boast their own Bigfoot-like creature, known as the Almas. These short, ape-like beings are said to inhabit the rugged Pamir Mountains of Central Asia. One of the most notable Almas encounters occurred in 1925, when General Mikhail Topilski was pursuing anti-Soviet rebels in the region. During an interrogation, a captured guerrilla revealed that the rebels had been attacked by strange creatures in a nearby cave. Curious, Topilski investigated and discovered an unusual corpse. Anthropologist Myra Shackley detailed the find in her book Still Living:
[The body] was that of a male creature, 165–170 cm [5’5″] tall, appearing elderly due to the grayish hair in certain areas. Its chest was covered in brownish hair, while its belly had grayish hair. The hair was thick overall, lacking underfur. The buttocks had the least hair, leading the doctor to conclude the creature sat like a human. The thighs were the hairiest, while the knees were hairless and covered in calluses. The feet, including the soles, were entirely hairless, with tough brown skin. Hair thinned near the hands, and the palms were hairless, featuring only callused skin. The face was dark, and the creature had no beard or mustache.
Unfortunately, Topilski didn’t have a camera and chose not to skin the corpse as initially intended. Instead, he ordered his men to bury it, effectively destroying the only evidence supporting his story. However, if the Russian Bigfoot does exist, at least we know it’s clean-shaven.
1. The Enigmatic Mist
While tales of dragons and werewolves might dominate wartime folklore, some of the eeriest supernatural encounters are those that leave much to the imagination. One such account comes from Robert L. Pollock, a crew member aboard a C-130 cargo plane during the Vietnam War. In an interview with The Paranomalist, Pollock described a chilling incident while flying near the coast of South Vietnam: “I noticed movement at the back of the cavernous, empty cargo hold. To my astonishment, a swirling gray cloud began to form near the rear troop door. The mist expanded rapidly, filling the entire rear section of the plane within seconds.”
Initially, Pollock assumed it was a technical issue, but no malfunction was detected. Soon, the entire crew gathered, retreating as the mist advanced toward the front of the aircraft. When Pollock reached his hand into the cloud, it disappeared from view. Curious, he and the plane’s engineer stepped into the fog, finding it completely opaque, as if it absorbed all light. Despite this, the mist had no odor, taste, or effect on breathing, and Pollock couldn’t even feel its presence.
Fortunately, the strange phenomenon resolved itself as “the mist began to dissipate in the same manner it had formed, only in reverse. When it retreated to its point of origin, it swirled counter-clockwise before vanishing entirely.” Wisely, Pollock and the crew chose to act as though the event had never occurred and avoided discussing it further.
