PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD - Sighting SE of Cheju Do Island

On July 20, 1959, two pilots from the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying a T-33 aircraft at 10,000 feet over the Tori-Jima bombing range, reported sighting seven vessels traveling in a line abreast formation while laying smoke. The vessels were estimated to be 200 to 300 feet long and were moving on a southerly heading. Upon returning to the area later, the pilots observed approximately ten large orange objects beneath the water's surface, which they described as appearing like large goldfish. The pilots descended to 100 feet to inspect the objects, which remained in a line abreast formation. The incident was reported through military channels as an urgent matter. Subsequent investigation by the U.S. Navy and Air Force identified the vessels as part of a U.S. fleet operation. It was determined that the 'large orange objects' were actually sonobouy dye markers deployed by a P5M aircraft from PATRON 48, which had been conducting an operational mission in the same vicinity. The P5M aircraft had jettisoned 11 sonobouys and 15 Mark 7 smokelights at 0425Z that day. The report concluded that the sighting was a result of these naval activities and that no foreign incident had occurred. The military command commended the pilots for their alertness, noting that while the incident was explained, such reports highlight the current awareness of tension in the region.