| ID | #1601909137 |
| Added | Mon, 05/10/2020 |
| Author | July N. |
| Sources | National UFO Reporting Center
|
| Phenomena | |
| Status | Research
|
Initial data
In the mid-summer of 1974, I was on Board the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in the Mediterranean. I was an E-2 signalman, which means I stand all the worst watches. My duty station on the ship was the signal bridge, a small open area above the tower (where the captain, first officer, and flight chief operate the ship). I just took off my watch at 02:00.
My job was to be the eye of the ship (very boring, though). I had just poured myself a Cup of coffee, lit a cigarette, and picked up my binoculars when I came out on the bridge deck, and walked to the edge of the bridge and looked over the 4-foot (1.2 m) steel railing towards the flight deck, everything was quiet, no movement. then I thought to myself, boy, I can see all the way to the bow of the ship! Sure, it's light today, I turned and looked up to see 3/4 of the moon... good night!
I leaned against the railing, put down my coffee, and began scanning the horizon from port to starboard (no waves, just smooth water as far as the eye could see). At an altitude of almost 180 feet (54 m) from the water, the viewing distance is about 20 miles on a clear night.
When I look from the starboard side back to the left along the horizon line, I have to assume that about 8 miles away was what looked like a reflection of the moon in the water, but looked pretty funny, so I took my binoculars and focused on it.
What I saw was a bright light, but under water! Then I went to the ship's booth (intercorporate radio station), pressed the switch, leaned over and said ... "Con"! A second later, a voice called" Con", and I said "Con". I have a contact bearing 210 with the left beam, can you confirm?
The voice said stand still. "Sigs Kon"! I said "Sings AI sigs", we have negative contact with the echo sounder ... do you have an image? my answer was Yes "con" I have a visual!
The answer was ready "Sigs"! I turned, picked up my coffee, and heard footsteps behind me on the stairs leading to the bridge. Within 10 minutes, I had the captain, senior officer, flight chief, and must have 8 or 10 officers from IOIC (Intel ships) on my bridge.
For the next 20 minutes, we all watched as the thing moved back and forth across the bow of the ship at speeds ranging from 60 to over 100 mph, creating a zigzag pattern back and forth in front of the ship underwater! at one point, it stopped right in our path and allowed us to get about 4 miles closer to it.
Suddenly it pulled away, as if we were parked, and disappeared into the depths. Standing in the background behind all these officers, I felt out of place, so I went back to the signal box, sat down at the table, and started filling out my log of previous events. Just as I was finishing my report, a Lieutenant came through the doorway of the compartment and said that the senior officer would like to see you ... and bring your magazine! When I followed him down the stairs, I thought I had something bad!
He opened the door to the captain's cabin, and there were at least 6 officers in the room. The look on their faces was not very good. The first to speak was the commander, whom I didn't recognize. I found his words funny in the context of what had just happened.
He said: What do you think you saw tonight?
my answer was ... I have no idea, sir!
He said ... Well, these events are currently being investigated by the Navy, and you are ordered not to tell anyone about these events, not your Department chief, not your division commanders, not even your buddies ... do you understand?
I said, sir, what events?....
He looked at me very seriously and said ... the good thing is that you can leave your magazine on the table when you leave.
I said ... Yes, sir! I turned and went out into the corridor as the door closed behind me.
I took two or three steps, stopped, leaned my back against the wall, and just slid down to the deck. The Lieutenant left the room, and I jumped up and stood in front of him, and he said that all requests concerning your log should be forwarded to the senior officer's office.
Original news
In mid-summer 1974, I was stationed aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59)in the Mediterranean ocean. my rate was an E-2 signalman that means I get to stand all the worst watches. My duty station on the ship was the signal bridge a small open deck area above the con-tower ( where the Captain and the XO and the flight boss run the ship)I had just taken my watch at 02:00.
My job was to be the ship’s eye’s ( very boring really )I had just poured myself a cup of coffee and lite a cigarette and picked up a pair of binoculars as I headed out onto the deck of the bridge, I walked to the edge of the bridge and looked over the 4′ steel railing down towards the flight deck all was quiet, no movement. then I thought to myself boy I can see all the way down to the bow of the ship! sure is bright out tonight, I turned and looked up to see a 3/4 moon…nice nite!
I leaned against the railing and set my coffee down and began to scan the horizon from port to starboard, ( no waves, just flat smooth water as far as the eye can see) At that elevation of almost 180′ off the water viewing distance is about 20 miles on a clear night.
As I look from starboard back to port along the horizon line, out I would have to guess at about 8 miles was what looked like the reflection of the moon on the water but it looked kinda funny, so I pick up the binoculars and focused in on it. what I saw was what appeared to be a bright light but under the water! I then walked over to the ship’s squawk box(inter ship radio)hit the switch, leaned in, and said ..Con sigs! a second later a voice cracked back Con I, I said Con I have a contact bearing 210 off the port beam, can you confirm?
The voice said to stand by sigs. sigs.Con! I said Sigs I Sigs we have negative sonar contact ..do you have visual? my reply was affirmative Con I have visual!
The reply was stand-by Sigs! I turned picked up my coffee and heard footsteps behind me from the ladder leading up from the bridge. Within 10 minutes, I had the captain, the XO, the flight boss, and what had to be 8 or 10 officers from IOIC ( ships Intel.) All on my bridge. For the next 20 minutes, we all watched as this thing moved back and forth across the bow of the ship at what had to be from 60 up to over 100 miles an hour cutting a zigzag pattern back and forth in front of the ship all this underwater! at one point it stopped directly in our path and allowed us to come within about 4 miles of it.
Suddenly it pulled away like we were parked and disappeared into the depths. Standing in the background behind all these officers I kinda felt out of place, so I retreated to the signal shack sat down at the desk and began to fill out my log on the preceding events. Just as I was finishing up my report,a Lt.stepped into the doorway of the compartment and said the XO would like to see you.. and bring your log! As I followed him down the ladder I was thinking I’m in trouble for something!
He opened the door to the captain’s quarters and in the room were no less than 6 officers. The look on their faces was not good. The first to speak was a commander I did not recognize. his words seemed funny to me in the context of what had just happened.
He said …What do you think you saw this evening? my response was.. I have no idea, sir! He said.. Well these events are currently under investigation by the navy and you are hereby ordered not to speak of these events to anyone, not to your section chief, your division leaders not even to your buddies.. do you understand? I said what events sir ?…. He looked at me with a very serious look and said ..very well you may leave your log on the desk on the way out, you’re dismissed I said.. yes sir! turned and stepped out into the hallway as the door closed behind me.
I took two or three steps stopped and put my back to the wall and just slid to the deck. A Lt. stepped out of the room and I jumped to attention and stood there in front of him, he said all inquiries concerning your log are to be forwarded to the XO’s office, Is that understood! Yes Sir
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