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Frederick Valentich Disappearance
Pilot Frederick Valentich radioed Melbourne that a large unknown aircraft was orbiting above him over Bass Strait. His last words were 'It is not an aircraft.' Then came metallic scraping sounds and silence. Neither he nor his Cessna were ever found.
1978
Bass Strait, Australia
1+ witnesses
Valentich vanished after reporting a UFO encounter.
The Pilot
Frederick Valentich:
- 20 years old
- Australian pilot
- Flying Cessna 182
- October 21, 1978
- Training flight
The Flight
That evening:
- Moorabbin to King Island
- Over Bass Strait
- Clear conditions
- Normal takeoff
- Solo flight
The Radio Calls
His transmissions:
- “Large unknown aircraft”
- “Four bright lights”
- “Hovering on top of me”
- “It is not an aircraft”
- Then silence
The Final Moments
Last transmission:
- Metallic scraping sounds
- 17 seconds duration
- No more contact
- Signal lost
- Search began immediately
The Search
Massive effort:
- Air and sea search
- No wreckage found
- No oil slick
- No debris
- Complete disappearance
Witness Reports
That night:
- Other UFO sightings
- Same general area
- Green lights reported
- Multiple witnesses
- Never explained