Father Gill Papua New Guinea Sighting

On the evenings of June 26-27, 1959, Anglican missionary Father William Gill led one of the most documented mass UFO sightings in history. Over two nights, he and 37 other witnesses observed a structured craft with humanoid occupants who appeared to respond to their waves.

The Witness

Father William Gill was an Anglican priest, an Australian missionary working in Papua New Guinea, and he enjoyed an excellent reputation and impeccable credibility.

The Location

The sighting occurred at Boianai, a remote mission station located in Papua New Guinea, which was a British territory at the time. It was an isolated village with clear tropical skies.

First Night - June 26

Around 6:45 PM, Venus was bright in the sky when another light appeared, much brighter than Venus, and moving toward the mission station. This light was not Venus.

The Object

The witnesses observed a large, disc-shaped craft that appeared structured in its design. They noted that four legs were visible, and the craft was glowing intensely as it hovered overhead.

The Figures

On top of the craft, humanoid figures were visible – four beings moving about and apparently working, silhouetted against the craft’s glow.

Father Gill’s Action

Father Gill decided to wave at the figures. He raised his arm and waved at them, and one of the figures responded by waving back. Subsequently, another figure waved, and the apparent response was a reciprocal interaction. He then waved with both arms, and both beings mirrored his action.

Waving Back

The beings responded by returning the wave, raising their arms, and seemed to acknowledge the movement, leading Father Gill to continue the exchange with both arms extended, and the other being mirrored his actions.

The Witnesses

That evening, 25 witnesses signed a statement, including teachers, a medical assistant, and indigenous staff, with multiple observers providing additional accounts.

Second Night - June 27

The object returned on the second night around the same time, maintaining a similar appearance and featuring the same figures. Multiple witnesses again observed the event, continuing the observed pattern.

Additional Witnesses

Over the course of two nights, a total of 38 people signed statements, documenting their observations. These witnesses had various backgrounds and levels of education, representing a mass sighting.

Duration

Both nights involved several hours of viewing, with the object moving slowly, returning multiple times, and allowing for extended observation and detailed study.

Gill’s Written Account

Father Gill wrote a detailed report of the event on the same night, providing the first primary documentation before any investigation occurred. This record was considered an excellent account.

The Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force investigated the report, interviewing Father Gill and reviewing the statements provided. However, they were unable to offer an explanation for the sighting, and the case remained officially unexplained, demonstrating significant interest in the event.

Dr. J. Allen Hynek

Later, Dr. J. Allen Hynek reviewed the case and found the witnesses’ accounts compelling, given the credible witnesses, multiple observers, and the extended duration of the observations. He considered it a classic case worthy of further study.

The Venus Explanation

Skeptics suggested that Venus had been misidentified, but Father Gill himself confirmed that both Venus and the object were visible that night, and the object moved differently, making this explanation unsatisfactory.

The Figures Problem

This explanation did not address the problematic aspects of the sighting, specifically the humanoid shapes, the responsive waving, the structured craft, and the detailed observations made by multiple witnesses.

Gill’s Character

Father Gill’s character was one of unwavering integrity. He had no history of fabrication, was a respected priest, a rational observer, and possessed no motive to lie, ensuring that his career remained unblemished.

Papua Context

The witnesses consisted of both indigenous and Western individuals, representing a diverse range of education levels. Remarkably, all witnesses observed the same thing, despite potential cultural differences, and were united in their shared observation.

Significance

The Father Gill case remains significant due to the participation of a priest as a witness, the involvement of 38 total observers, the apparent interaction with beings, the two-night duration of the observation, and the exceptionally detailed documentation that accompanied the event.

Legacy

The Father Gill sighting remains one of the most credible mass UFO sightings on record. A respected priest, dozens of witnesses, apparent interaction with beings, and detailed documentation make this case remarkably difficult to dismiss.

Sources

• Wikipedia search: “Father Gill Papua New Guinea Sighting”
• Project Blue Book — National Archives — USAF UFO investigation files, 1947–1969
• CIA UFO/UAP Reading Room — Declassified CIA documents on UAP