Sea Fury radar-visual encounter
- Date
- 31 Aug 1954
- Place
- Night sky between Goulburn and the Royal Australian Navy air station at Nowra, New South Wales
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Unexplained
- Evidence strength
What was reported
Royal Australian Navy pilot Lt J. O'Farrell, flying a Sea Fury towards Nowra at about 7:10 pm, saw a bright light close fast, cross ahead and take station on his port beam, then a second similar light. Nowra reported two radar returns in company with his aircraft; the radar operator, Petty Officer Keith Jessop, confirmed two objects near the Sea Fury on the display, and a ground observer also saw lights. The story leaked in December 1954; the Directorate of Naval Intelligence released its file in 1982, and O'Farrell's report is held by the National Archives of Australia. No explanation is recorded.
What officials concluded
No conclusion stated
No official explanation has been given.
Strongest ordinary reading
none established
Evidence profile
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- Yes: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- Yes: Civilian
- Yes: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- Yes: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- Yes: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Project 1947 (Bill Chalker): The Sea Fury encounterproject1947.com
- Patrick Gross: Nowra 1954ufologie.patrickgross.org
On the map
34.85° S, 150.15° E, plotted at the centre of the region named in the record
Show on the map