04-00-1970

04-??-1970-a

UNIDENTIFED SUBMARINE OBJECT OFF PAPUA

The Revd. Norman E. G. Cruttwell

On a night in the month of April 1970 a remarkable submarine object was seen by Mr. Albert Robins, Store Manager, of Rabaraba, Milne Bay District. He was travelling in a small coastal motor boat from Rabaraba to Cape Vogel, about one hour north of Rabaraba on the waters of Goodenough Bay; The time was about 2.00 a.m. and the night was clear. The sea was reasonably calm. There were five Papuan crew on board who also witnessed the object.

A brilliant light appeared beneath the sea on the starboard side and a huge brilliantly lit object rose slowly from below the water: even so it seemed that about three-quarters remained submerged Mr. Robins estimates its size to be about 80ft. in length. Its width and thickness were difficult to estimate because of the submersion, but it would have been at least four times as long as high (and wide). It was cigar-shaped, with both ends pointed; the top was somewhat flattened. He saw no detail of surface, or any irregularities or protrusions. The object was self-luminous, dazzlingly bright so that it hurt the eyes to look at it.

Diagram showing object partly submerged, as observed by Mr. Albert Robins.

It was travelling at exactly the same speed as the boat, i.e. 7 knots, and paced it for four minutes. Mr. Robins and all the Papuan crew were, needless to say, terrified, and tried to take evasive action by turning to port, but the object did likewise and followed them relentlessly, keeping about 20ft. away from the boat on the starboard beam. They turned two complete circles before shaking it off. The crew were shouting with amazement and fear, but apart from this and the sound of the sea, they heard no sound from the object, which seemed to be completely silent.

The object then suddenly started to descend into the depths until its light faded and it was gone. The sailors immediately turned back and made with all speed back to Rabaraba, and did not set out again till after daylight.

The people knew of this object and called it a "floating reef" They said it appeared quite frequently all over Goodenough Bay, It has apparently been seen off Cape Vogel and also, from Dogura, in Bartle Bay. It was witnessed before off Rabaraba by Mr. Otto Alder, then A.D.C. in 1968.

I shall make further investigations into this object and report again if I find anything else significant.

I have personally interview Mr. Robins and he has filed a sighting form from which I have taken this information, l have known Mr. Robins for five years and can vouch for his reliability.

As readers will see,. this is right in the middle of the area of the l959,New Guinea wave.*

Explanations given by non-observers for the unidentified submarine object are:

(i) bioluminescence in the sea

(ii) a school of porpoises stirring up phosphorescence

(iii) a whale or whale shark, with luminous sea streaming off him.

Hardly adequate to account for what the Robins party saw Mr. Robins and his crew are accustomed to normal sea phenomena. Furthermore, the question has to be asked: can bioluminescence be blindingly bright?

* This fantastic wave is presented in detail in the Revd. Norman Cruttwell's contribution to FSR's 4th Special issue, UFOs in Two Worlds—editor.

This reference: Flying Saucer Review Vol. 18, No. 3 May/June 1972, p. 17-18

Flying Saucer Review’s 4th Special issue, UFOs in Two Worlds

UFOCAT PRN – 71521

UFOCAT URN – 071521 Flying Saucer Review Vol. 18, No. 3 May/June 1972, p. 17-18

UFOCAT URN – 159340 Australian FSR by the Victorian UFO research Society, December 1972, p. 2

Papua New Guinea

Goodenough Bay Latitude 09-50-00 S, Longitude 149-52-00 E (D-M-S) [Approximate-CF-]

Milne Bay Latitude 10-23-00 S, Longitude 150-27-00 E [Approximate-CF-]

Cape Vogel Latitude 09-40-00 S, Longitude 150-02-00 E [Approximate-CF-]

Bartle Bay Latitude 10-06-00 S, Longitude 150-08-00 E [Approximate-CF-]

Goodenough Island Latitude 09-22-00 S, Longitude 150-16-0 E

Rabaraba Latitude 09-58-00 S, Longitude 149-49-60 E [Raba Raba]

Dogura Latitude 10-05-60 S, Longitude 150-4-60 E

Reference: http://www.fallingrain.com/world/

UFO Location (UFOCAT) Latitude 10.0 S, Longitude 149.83 E (D.%)

Latitude 9.87 S, Longitude 149.87 E [URN 193974]