Official · Document · Department of State
Residents Alarmed by Aircraft Leaving White Streaks in the Sky
The reports frightened residents and prompted a public meeting. A local pilot said an instrument aboard his plane detected fast-moving aircraft.
In brief
Residents in Papua New Guinea were alarmed by lights, noise, and white streaks in the sky. A pilot said an instrument aboard his plane detected fast-moving aircraft, but their identity was never established.
Summary
U.S. Department of State diplomatic cable (MRN 85 PORT MORESBY 199, DTG 280653Z JAN 85) from AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY to USCINCPAC Honolulu (action), with info copies to 43SW Andersen AFB Guam, SECSTATE WASHDC, AMEMBASSY CANBERRA, and AMEMBASSY JAKARTA. Classification is LIMITED OFFICIAL USE. The cable, signed GARDNER, reports that on January 28, 1985 the embassy received an informal inquiry from the Papua New Guinea National Intelligence Organization (NIO) about reported sightings of high-altitude, high-speed aircraft over PNG on the evening of January 24, 1985, including a credible report from an Air Niugini pilot whose radar tracked an aircraft south-to-north at high altitude and speed near Angoram (vic. 4 deg S, 144 deg E). Embassy informed NIO, based on records and a telcon with 43SW, that it knew of no B-52 overflights and no U.S. aircraft in PNG airspace on January 24, and requested confirmation and any additional light from USCINCPAC.
Incidents in the document
- 1985-01-24 · Over Papua New Guinea, including vicinity of Wewak and Angoram (vic. 4 deg S, 144 deg E) · Page 1
Multiple reports on the evening of January 24, 1985 of high-altitude, high-speed aircraft over PNG: fast-moving objects with lights, contrails, and noise. Local residents in Wewak were 'frightened by overflights,' prompting the provincial premier to call a public meeting attended by the Prime Minister. An Air Niugini pilot, just after taking off from Wewak en route to Port Moresby, reported his radar picked up an aircraft flying south-to-north at high altitude and high speed when he was over Angoram. Visual sightings of contrails were also reported from various points around PNG: one aircraft moving north-to-south at 1900 local, and six-to-eight aircraft traveling south-to-north at 2200 local.