It was an ''unseasonably mild'' night in late October 1998 when the man from Barnes, south-west London, could not sleep so took to his garden with the drink.
''After a few moments I heard a distant roar of engines getting louder and louder,'' he told the Ministry of Defence.
''Suddenly a huge craft appeared over the house, heading in a westerly direction at speed.
''It was a large cigar-shaped vehicle with large projectiles on each side like wings.
''It seemed to have two very bright lights at the front and a white light flashing round and round underneath.