Papua, New Guinea close encounter

From TinWiki.org

Mission Station, Boianai

On June 26 and 27, 1959, an Anglican priest overseeing the Boianai mission in Papua, New Guinea, Reverend William B. Gill (1928-2007), reported a Close Encounter of the Third Kind. Besides Rev. Gill, witnesses of the Papua, New Guinea close encounter included medical technicians, teachers, students, and others, approximately 30 in all.

Contents 1 UFO flap in New Guinea 1.1 Rev. Gill’s first letter 1.2 Rev. Gill’s second letter 2 Events of June 26 3 Events of April 27 4 J. Allen Hynek investigates 4.1 Problem for skeptics 5 External links

UFO flap in New Guinea

At the time of Rev. Gill’s encounter, a UFO flap was underway in New Guinea, generating over 60 separate reports in just a few weeks. Rev. Gill acknowledged these events in a letter to a fellow missionary in Dogura.

Rev. Gill’s first letter

On June 26, Rev. Gill wrote to Rev. David Durie, his letter accompanying a report made by Steven Moi, an assistant teacher at the mission, regarding the instructor’s UFO sighting five days earlier on June 21.

"Have a look at this extraordinary data," Rev. Gill wrote. "I am almost convinced about the ‘visitation’ theory. There have been quite a number of reports over the months, from reliable witnesses."

However, Rev. Gill’s letter reveals a certain skepticism when he continues, "I am inclined to believe that probably many UFOs are more likely some form of electric phenomena.... That Stephen should actually make out a saucer could be the work of the unconscious mind as it is very likely that at some time he has seen illustrations of some kind in a magazine..."

Rev. Gill signs his letter, "Doubting William."

Rev. Gill’s second letter

In Rev. Gill’s letter written the following day to Rev. Durie, his skepticism had evaporated.

"Last night we at Boianai experienced about 4 hours of UFO activity, and there is no doubt whatsoever that they are handled by beings of some kind. At times it was absolutely breathtaking."

Along with that letter, Rev. Gill enclosed a detailed report of the preceding evening’s amazing events, this time signing his letter, "Convinced Bill."

Events of June 26

At 6:45 p.m., Rev. Gill saw a bright, white light approaching the mission, and as he called out, 38 others joined him, including teachers Steven Moi and Ananias Rarata, and Mrs. Nessie Moi. It dimmed as it grew closer, descending to 500 feet. He described the object as disc-shaped, with a wide base and narrower upper deck. Other features included four legs protruding underneath it and four portholes or panels along its side which glowed brighter than the rest of the object.

Reverend Gill’s sketch of object

On top of the object, he observed first one, then eventually four men "doing something on deck." Rev. Gill said, "The men appeared to be illuminated not only by this light reflected on them [from the portholes], but also by a sort of glow which completely surrounded them as well as the craft. The glow did not touch them, but there appeared to be a little space between their outline and the light."

The men disappeared from sight, then at 7:00, two of the men reappeared and seemed to be working on a spotlight emanating a blue ray pointed skyward at a 45-degree angle. The spotlight went off and the men again disappeared. At 7:20, the UFO was obscured by clouds.

At 8:28, the clouds cleared and the UFO, still visible, descended. Rev. Gill said the apparent size was equal to 5 inches at arm’s length. At this time, he reported another object hovering over the ocean, and yet another one over Wadobuna village. Still other objects darted in and out of the clouds, reflecting light onto the clouds "like a large halo."

At 9:30, the largest UFO shot off at tremendous speed, heading for Giwa, but by 9:46, it or a similar craft reappeared, hovering overhead until it was obscured by clouds and heavy rain at 10:30.

Events of April 27

The next night, the craft reappeared at 6:00, first spotted by medical technician Annie Borews, a Papuan medical assistant. Again Rev. Gill called out, and they were joined by about a dozen witnesses. As they watched, two smaller, stationary objects were seen, one overhead and the other above the hills to the west. On the large UFO, four men appeared on deck. Two of them were bending over and raising arms, seeming to be working on something near the center of the deck.

One of the four beings ("no doubt they are human," said Rev. Gill) could be seen looking down at the group assembled below, "just as one will look over the rails of a ship."

Father Gill stretched his arm up and waved to him. Incredibly, the occupant waved back. Standing next to Rev. Gill, teacher Ananias Rarata raised both his arms over his head, and again the figure on the craft responded by raising both of his arms. In response, both Rarata and Rev. Gill raised their arms, and now all four of the occupants waved back.

Said Rev. Gill, "There seemed to be no doubt that our movements were answered. All the mission boys made audible gasps (of either joy or surprise, perhaps both)."

Shortly afterwards, the occupants disappeared into the craft’s interior, but at 6:25, two of them reemerged, continuing their activities on the deck. Their blue spot light came on twice. By 7:00, the two smaller UFOs were still stationary, but the large UFO had drifted higher. By 7:45, clouds moved in and nothing more was seen.

But at 10:40, a terrific "earsplitting" explosion woke everyone up, sounding like it had come from just outside the mission house. Rev. Gill said that it did not sound like a thunderclap. However, no cause for the explosion was found.

"Sun-Herald" August 16, 1959

J. Allen Hynek investigates

Dr. Hynek, former Project Blue Book consultant and astronomer, thoroughly investigated the incidents, traveling to the site itself and conducting interviews. He discounted skeptics’ various assertions—primarily planetary misidentification, visual miscues caused by clouds, and even Rev. Gill’s eyesight (he wore his glasses during the sightings). Hynek ultimately declared the sighting to be genuine.

Problem for skeptics

Several factors effectively countered the skeptics in this case: Rev. Gill’s immense veracity, the number of witnesses, and the highly unique, detailed particulars. If not a hoax...if not a visual misidentification...what?

External links

• UFO Evidence

• About.com

• The Oz Files