Tully saucer nest
- Date
- 19 Jan 1966
- Place
- Horseshoe Lagoon, near Euramo and Tully, far north Queensland, Australia
- Record
- Curated case
- Assessment
- Contested
- Evidence strength
What was reported
Banana farmer George Pedley, driving a tractor near Horseshoe Lagoon, heard a loud hiss and said he saw a saucer-shaped object rise from the swamp and fly off. He found an oval of about nine metres where the reeds were flattened in a clockwise swirl; it was photographed and examined by police, and further 'nests' were reported nearby. The Department of Air (RAAF) investigated and suspected a willy-willy (whirlwind). The case is often cited as a forerunner of the crop-circle phenomenon.
What officials concluded
Tentative explanation
Department of Air: probably a willy-willy (whirlwind)
Strongest ordinary reading
A whirlwind or waterspout flattening the reeds
Evidence profile
Sensors2 of 9
- Yes: Visual
- No: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- Yes: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
Witnesses1 counted
- Yes: Civilian
- No: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
ShapeDisc
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- Yes: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- No: Other shape
Effects2 reported
- No: Physiological
- Yes: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- Yes: Sound
- No: Silent
Outside sources
- Wikipedia: UFO sightings in Australiaen.wikipedia.org
- Project 1947 (Bill Chalker): Tullyproject1947.com
On the map
17.93° S, 145.92° E, plotted at the town or city
Show on the map