Frederick Valentich disappearance — Bass Strait, October 21, 1978

Keith Basterfield’s account of the released Department of Transport files describes Valentich’s flight toward King Island, an unusual-object report, rough engine running and loss of communication. The search found neither aircraft nor pilot. The official investigation did not determine the cause. The father’s belief that a UFO had taken his son is distinguished from the investigation’s findings. This Hatch record and UFO-0073 concern the same disappearance; the underlying complete file remains linked for further examination.