State Department UAP Cable 001, Papua New Guinea, January 28, 1985

The U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea received an inquiry from the PNG National Intelligence Organization concerning reported sightings of high-altitude, high-speed aircraft over PNG on January 24, 1985.

EMBASSY JANUARY 28 RECEIVED INFORMAL INQUIRY FROM PNG NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (NIO) CONCERNING REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF HIGH-ALTITUDE, HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT OVER PNG DURING EVENING JANUARY 24.

Local residents in Wewak were frightened by overflights, leading to a public meeting called by the provincial premier.

LOCAL RESIDENTS HAD BEEN FRIGHTENED BY OVERFLIGHTS, WHICH LED TO THE PROVINCIAL PREMIER'S CALLING OF A PUBLIC MEETING ON THE SUBJECT.

There were various reports of unidentified aerial phenomena on the night of January 24, including fast-moving objects with lights, contrails, and noise.

NIO SAID THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS REPORTS OF UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 24, INCLUDING FAST-MOVING OBJECTS WITH LIGHTS, CONTRAILS, AND NOISE.

An Air Niugini pilot reported radar detection of aircraft flying south to north at high altitude and high speed.

PILOT SAID HIS RADAR PICKED UP AIRCRAFT FLYING SOUTH TO NORTH AT HIGH ALTITUDE AND HIGH SPEED.

There were visual sightings of contrails from various points around PNG.

SEVERAL VISUAL SIGHTINGS OF CONTRAILS WERE ALSO REPORTED FROM VARIOUS POINTS AROUND PNG.

The U.S. Embassy knew of no B-52 overflights and no U.S. aircraft in PNG airspace on January 24.

WE HAVE TOLD NIO WE KNEW OF NO B-52 OVERFLIGHTS AND NO U.S. AIRCRAFT IN PNG AIRSPACE ON JANUARY 24.

The information provided on the sightings is very sketchy.

ALTHOUGH INFORMATION PROVIDED US ON THESE SIGHTINGS IS VERY SKETCHY.

The U.S. Embassy to Papua New Guinea received an inquiry from the host nation’s intelligence services regarding reports of high-altitude, high-speed aircraft in Papua New Guinean airspace on the evening of January 24, 1985.

The cable reports that the U.S. Embassy to Papua New Guinea received an inquiry from the host nation’s intelligence services regarding reports of high-altitude, high-speed aircraft in Papua New Guinean airspace on the evening of January 24, 1985.

The NIO relayed to U.S. diplomatic personnel that residents had been frightened by overflights, which led to the provincial premier’s calling of a public meeting on the subject.

The NIO relayed to U.S. diplomatic personnel that residents had been 'frightened by overflights, which led to the provincial premier’s calling of a public meeting on the subject.'

The cable sought clarification from U.S. INDOPACOM on the presence or absence of U.S. military aircraft within Papua New Guinean airspace on the night in question.

It also sought clarification from U.S. INDOPACOM on the presence or absence of U.S. military aircraft within Papua New Guinean airspace on the night in question.