Between Port Lincoln Melbourne Australia radar-visual unidentified-object report — February 1958

On or during February 1958, at or near Between Port Lincoln Melbourne Australia, Australia, the source reports the following sequence: COMMENTS: While control noticed that blip on radar screen, unusual target contrail indicates likely confirmation, but not absolutely conclusive, as normal activity in this area. Enclosed herewith for your information and retention is a report by a ship's master on a phenomenon observed during a passage from Port Lincoln (South Australia) to Melbourne, Victoria. February 1958 whilst in the above position a contrail was observed to form about 75 degrees altitude and bearing 230 degrees from the ship. The contrail developed rapidly passed over the vessel smith and faded out at about 45 degrees altitude and disappeared at an altitude of about 15 degrees on the same bearing, and in direction over the horizon. The contrail remained visible for about thirty minutes gradually dissipating with the extinction of time, it was observed to form and disappear. The second officer likened the contrail to the trails left by V.2. rockets when launched having observed such launchings from the North Sea during 1944. Abnormal refraction was noted at the time of observation, the "Lake Eyre" bound on its opposite course was that observed will below the horizon and the large size of this vessel was seen to be inverted.