This is an account of a
sighting of flying saucers that I saw when travelling from Pearl Harbour,
Hawaii to Guam in the Canadian Destroyer H.M.C.S. Iroquois in May 1952.
The ship left Pearl Harbour
around 1800 [6 PM] and proceeded on a westerly course at about 14 knots. I
was the Officer of the watch on the bridge, having taken over the watch at
2400 [midnight]. The ship was in three watches and proceeding under normal
routine conditions. There was a thin layer of mist overhead; the stars
were not visible. The temperature was warm and there was no wind.
At about 0100, I saw a
single white light on the port bow at about 30 degrees elevation at a
visual estimated range of about a mile. It moved from right to left at a
rapid rate. It had a halo around it due to the mist. I assumed it to be a
low flying aircraft. It did not appear on the Sperry Navigational radar.
The air defence radar was not in service due to a major maintenance
routine.
I thought it unusual to see
a low flying aircraft which at this time was about 100 miles from Hawaii.
There were no military aircraft listed on the operational schedule for
this area. A short time later another light appeared from the same
direction passing at high speed. It was not picked up on the navigational
radar either which was not surprising as the radar detection lobe covers
the surface but not the sky. By now the mist had dissipated and the sky
was clear. These two incidents were not similar to subsequent sightings.
They are recorded only to give a complete picture of events.
At about 0200 I saw the
first of many strange lights in the sky. The vast majority were in
formation, usually quarter line and all appeared on the port side [toward
the south]. Many were in groups of three, some in groups of five or six.
They appeared and disappeared instantly at the same speed a computer
screen operates.
Reporters Note:
A quarter line refers to a formation which could be called half of a Vee
formation. Example:
The
reference to "a computer screen" was explained as meaning that the
lights would be moving slowly then suddenly jump ahead at incredible
speed and then stop. Almost as if disappearing and reappearing.
They moved from time to time
and the numbers changed frequently. At one time I counted more than
thirty. I recall discussing the possible identity of these lighted objects
with the signalman on watch with me. He thought they were very strange.
Reporters Note: Commander MacFarlane related by phone that he had
shared his binoculars with the signalman, thus providing the signalman
with an excellent view of the unknown object.
Suddenly
one of these objects appeared at close range on our port bow at a low
elevation. It was disc-shaped and consisted of a very bright light with
black windows running around the whole side which was visible to us. It
maintained perfect station on us for at least fifteen minutes. I scanned
the object with binoculars attempting to see into the windows but saw
nothing. I counted the windows and recall there were about two dozen. They
were very large and close together and completely black. Although the body
of the object glowed very brightly it did not prevent me from looking
directly at it. The object appeared more oval in shape than round. And
then suddenly it was gone. There was no sound made at any time.
There were still some
objects visible far off on the port side. They also had disappeared by
0300. It was at this time that I realised that I hadn't informed the
captain nor anyone else. I did not debrief any of the watch who were at
other stations.
It was conduct so unlike my
usual practice that I was left quite disturbed. It must also be remembered
that in 1952 there were a multitude of sightings of flying saucers; so
many in fact that many doubted the truth of such sightings. A young naval
officer certainly didn't want to be included with that group.
The problem then was what to
enter in the ships log! I decided to state that many meteorites had been
sighted during the watch. At 0400 I turned the watch over to Lieutenant
Doug Tutte without mentioning the flying objects. He did not read the
ship's log until he wrote up the record of his watch at 0800.
We met at breakfast. He said
that I hadn't mentioned seeing meteorites on the turnover and wanted to
know what they looked like? Eventually he described a similar experience
and we discussed the subject at length. He also had failed to call the
captain and for similar reasons he also reported sighting many meteorites
during the watch in the log.
Lieutenant Tutte was a very
reliable and professional officer and yet he couldn't explain why he also
did not call the captain. After some considerable discussion we concluded
that there was a possibility that we were under some sort of hypnotic
control from the objects. We didn't want to be the subject of ridicule and
fearing the reaction of the captain we agreed to say no more about the
night’s activities.
It was very weird.
None of these lights had
been reported by the lookouts whom, when challenged, all replied that
their sector was clear except for those "funny lights". They had not
reported them because they were neither ships nor aircraft. These groups
were visible as far as the horizon on the port side.
We were on our way to fight
a war in Korea !
I have forgotten the names
of the signalman and lookouts on that strange night and I believe that
Doug Tutte is now dead, so there is no proof that I have of the events
that I described. The ship's log will be in the National Archives which
will confirm the dates of the Meteorite Sightings !
Why have I written this
account at this late date? A feeling of guilt or a sense of duty? Probably
because I think it is important that it be recorded and that I am now old
enough not to worry about being ridiculed. Finally, I have never seen any
flying objects since. It must be noted that they acted in a non
threatening manner. I presume that they were just inquisitive. I have
attached a rough sketch of the close object.
George R. MacFarlane,
Commander Royal Canadian Navy Retired
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