DOS-UAP-C1, CABLE REPORT, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, JANUARY 1985

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This is a State Department cable from the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, reporting an inquiry from the PNG National Intelligence Organization regarding sightings of high-altitude, high-speed aircraft over the country on January 24, 1985.

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MRN: 85 PORT MORESBY 199
Date/DTG: Jan 28, 1985 / 280000Z Jan 85
From: AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY
Action: USCINCLANT ROUTINE
E.O.: Unknown
TAGS: MARR, PP
Reference: n/a
Subject: PAPUA NEW GUINEA INQUIRY RE OVERFLIGHTS

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ACTION PM-11

INFO OCT-00 COPY-01 ADS-00 INR-10 SS-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00
NSAE-00 EAP-00 /022 W
--------------------026406 280708Z /12
O 280653Z JAN 85
FM AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY
TO USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
INFO 43SW ANDERSON AFB GU IMMEDIATE
SECSTATE WASHDC 1694
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY JAKARTA

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USCINCPAC FOR J3 AND POLAD
43 SW FOR DONO
STATE FOR EAP/PIA AND PM/RSA

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: MARR, PP
SUBJECT: PAPUA NEW GUINEA INQUIRY RE OVERFLIGHTS

1. 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. MATTER CAME TO
NIO'S ATTENTION WHEN ITS OFFICER IN WEWAK REPORTED LOCAL
RESIDENTS HAD BEEN FRIGHTENED BY OVERFLIGHTS, WHICH LED
TO THE PROVINCIAL PREMIER'S CALLING OF A PUBLIC MEETING
ON THE SUBJECT ATTENDED BY THE PRIME MINISTER WHO WAS
WEEKENDING IN HIS ELECTORAL DISTRICT.

Released in Full
John Powers, Acting-Director
US Department of State
2/25/2026

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This page details reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in Papua New Guinea on January 24, 1985, including radar and visual sightings by an Air Niugini pilot and others, and confirms that no U.S. B-52 aircraft were in the area.

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2. NIO SAID THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS REPORTS OF
UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 24,
INCLUDING FAST-MOVING OBJECTS WITH LIGHTS, CONTRAILS,
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AND NOISE. THE REPORT IN WHICH NIO PLACES SOME CREDENCE
ORIGINATED WITH AN AIR NIUGINI PILOT WHO HAD JUST TAKEN
OFF FROM WEWAK ENROUTE PORT MORESBY. PILOT SAID HIS
RADAR PICKED UP AIRCRAFT FLYING SOUTH TO NORTH AT HIGH
ALTITUDE AND HIGH SPEED WHEN HE WAS OVER ANGORAM (VIC 4
DEG S, 144 DEG E). SEVERAL VISUAL SIGHTINGS OF
CONTRAILS WERE ALSO REPORTED FROM VARIOUS POINTS AROUND
PNG, OF ONE AIRCRAFT MOVING NORTH TO SOUTH AT 1900 LOCAL
AND OF SIX-EIGHT AIRCRAFT TRAVELING SOUTH TO NORTH AT
2200 LOCAL.

3. BASED ON OUR RECORDS AND TELCON WITH 43SW, WE HAVE
TOLD NIO WE KNEW OF NO B-52 OVERFLIGHTS AND NO U.S.
AIRCRAFT IN PNG AIRSPACE ON JANUARY 24.

4. ALTHOUGH INFORMATION PROVIDED US ON THESE SIGHTINGS
IS VERY SKETCHY AND SOURCES WERE UNSURE OF THE
DIRECTIONS IN WHICH AIRCRAFT WERE FLYING, WE WOULD MOST
APPRECIATE CONFIRMATION OF PARA 3 ABOVE AND ANY LIGHT
YOU MIGHT THROW ON THESE REPORTS.
GARDNER

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other

This is the final page of a document, containing only administrative markings and a dissemination rule.

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