Project 10873 Record Card — Terrigal, New South Wales, 30 Dec 52

This document details a sighting of an unidentified aerial object reported by a Wing Commander of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on December 30, 1952. The witness, who was on the beach at Terrigal, New South Wales, observed the object at approximately noon. He described the object as extremely bright, with a brilliance comparable to a naked carbon arc at close range. The object was estimated to be at an altitude of 2,000 feet and was observed moving slowly in a general northerly direction for about one minute, covering an angular distance of 8 degrees. Following this, the object appeared to turn eastward and departed at a great speed, a maneuver completed in approximately 20 seconds. The witness, who was accompanied by his wife and child, initially considered the possibility of a meteorological balloon but dismissed it because the object maintained a steady height and moved against the wind. The report includes an interrogation conducted by Group Captain Alexander of the RAAF. While the witness remained skeptical of the official explanation, the Directorate of Air Force Intelligence concluded that the object was a large meteor at a considerable distance. The report notes that the witness, a technical officer well-acquainted with aircraft, felt the object's change of course was inconsistent with the customary parabolic flight path of a meteor, though the Directorate maintained its assessment.