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85 PORT MORESBY 199
Jan 28, 1985 / 280000Z Jan 85
From : AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY
A ction:
E.O .:
TA G S:
USCINCLANT RO UTINE
Unknown
MARR, PP
R eference:
Subject:
n/a
PAPUA NEW GUINEA INQUIRY RE OVERFLIGHTS
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ACTION PM-11
INFO OCT-00 COPY-01 ADS-00 INR-10 SS-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 
NSAE-00 EAP-00 /022 W 
--026 406 280708Z/12
0 2806 53 Z JAN 85
FM AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY
TO USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE 
INFO 43 SW ANDERSON AFB GU IMMEDIATE 
SECSTATE WASHDC 16 94 
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE PORT MORESBY 00199
USCINCPAC FOR J3  AND POLAD
43  SW FOR DONO
STATE FOR EAP/PIA AND PM/RSA
E.O. 123 56 : N/A
TAGS: MARR, PP
SUBJECT: PAPUA NEW GUINEA INQUIRY RE OVERFLIGHTS
1. EMBASSY JANUARY 28 RECEIVED INFORMAL INQUIRY FROM 
PNG NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION (NIO) CONCERNING 
REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF HIGH-ALTITUDE, HIGH-SPEED AIRCRAFT 
OVER PNG DURING EVENING JANUARY 24. MATTER CAME TO 
NIO'S ATTENTION WHEN ITS OFFICER IN WEWAK REPORTED LOCAL 
RESIDENTS HAD BEEN FRIGHTENED BY OVERFLIGHTS, WHICH LED 
TO THE PROVINCIAL PREMIER'S CALLING OF A PUBLIC MEETING 
ON THE SUBJECT ATTENDED BY THE PRIME MINISTER WHO WAS 
WEEKENDING IN HIS ELECTORAL DISTRICT.
Released in Full
John Powers, Acting-Director 
US Department of State 
2/25/2026
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2. NIO SAID THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS REPORTS OF 
UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 24, 
INCLUDING FAST-MOVING OBJECTS WITH LIGHTS, CONTRAILS, 
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AND NOISE. THE REPORT IN WHICH NIO PLACES SOME CREDENCE 
ORIGINATED WITH AN AIR NIUGINI PILOT WHO HAD JUST TAKEN 
OFF FROM WEWAK ENROUTE PORT MORESBY. PILOT SAID HIS 
RADAR PICKED UP AIRCRAFT FLYING SOUTH TO NORTH AT HIGH 
ALTITUDE AND HIGH SPEED WHEN HE WAS OVER ANGORAM (VIC 4 
DEG S, 144 DEG E). SEVERAL VISUAL SIGHTINGS OF 
CONTRAILS WERE ALSO REPORTED FROM VARIOUS POINTS AROUND 
PNG, OF ONE AIRCRAFT MOVING NORTH TO SOUTH AT 1900 LOCAL 
AND OF SIX-EIGHT AIRCRAFT TRAVELING SOUTH TO NORTH AT 
2200 LOCAL.
3 . BASED ON OUR RECORDS AND TELCON WITH 43 SW, WE HAVE 
TOLD NIO WE KNEW OF NO B-52 OVERFLIGHTS AND NO U.S. 
AIRCRAFT IN PNG AIRSPACE ON JANUARY 24.
4. ALTHOUGH INFORMATION PROVIDED US ON THESE SIGHTINGS 
IS VERY SKETCHY AND SOURCES WERE UNSURE OF THE 
DIRECTIONS IN WHICH AIRCRAFT WERE FLYING, WE WOULD MOST 
APPRECIATE CONFIRMATION OF PARA 3  ABOVE AND ANY LIGHT 
YOU MIGHT THROW ON THESE REPORTS. 
GARDNER
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