Report on Observation of Phenomenon - S.S. Woomera

This document consists of a series of communications regarding an aerial phenomenon observed on February 8, 1958, by the crew of the S.S. Woomera while in transit between Port Lincoln and Melbourne, Australia. The report, forwarded by the Australian Joint Service Staff to the U.S. Department of the Army, details the sighting of a fast-moving object at an estimated altitude of over 50,000 feet. The witnesses, including the ship's second officer, chief engineer, and fifth engineer, observed a white contrail that formed at a bearing of 290 degrees, passed over the vessel's zenith, and eventually disappeared at an altitude of approximately 15 degrees. The contrail remained visible for 30 minutes and exhibited signs of maneuvering, which the second officer likened to the trails left by V.2 rockets he had observed during the Second World War. The report also notes that abnormal refraction was present at the time, causing the image of another vessel, the S.S. Lake Eyre, to appear inverted on the horizon. Official comments appended to the record card suggest the phenomenon was likely an aircraft, citing the combustion engine contrail and the observed maneuvering. It is further noted that the region is frequently utilized for missile and aircraft testing, providing a plausible context for the sighting.