Fredrick Valentich radioed Melbourne Flight Service at 7:06 PM to report an unidentified aircraft was following him at 4,500 feet and was told there was no known traffic at that level. Valentich said he could see a large unknown aircraft which appeared to be illuminated by four bright landing lights. He was unable to confirm its type, but said it had passed about 1,000 feet overhead and was moving at high speed. Valentich then reported that the aircraft was approaching him from the east and said the other pilot might be purposely toying with him. He said the aircraft was “orbiting” above him and that it had a shiny metal surface and a green light on it. Asked to identify the aircraft, Valentich radioed, “It isn’t an aircraft” when his transmission was interrupted by unidentified noise described as being “metallic, scraping sounds” before all contact was lost. A sea and air search was undertaken that included oceangoing ship traffic, a P-3 Orion aircraft, plus eight civilian aircraft. The search encompassed over 1,000 square miles. Search efforts ceased on 25 October 1978. Continue reading for more.
