R.N.Z.A.F. Station, WHENUAPAI
4th April, 1955
AFTER FLIGHT REPORT.
Sir,
I have the honour to report that while acting as Navigator on NZ 5904 (Capt. F/O CHEAL) on a Night Cross Country which departed from Whenuapai at 311950M. I sighted an unidentified object flying on a course of 270 $ ^{\circ} $ T and at about 12,000' in the vicinity of Gisborne. We were at 9000' on a course of 037 $ ^{\circ} $ T and whilst taking a relative bearing on Gisborne at 2135M I noticed a large blue light approaching from 045 $ ^{\circ} $ REL. There was 8/8 Altostratus cloud base at about 15000' and the object crossed our bow at considerable speed in a flat flight path. The Captain was adjusting the auto-pilot at the time of sighting, and by the time I had drawn his attention to the object, it had vanished towards Lake Taupe.
I have the honour to be $ \mathbf{b} _ {2} $ .
Sir,
Your obedient Servant
Dan Monantrie
(IAN McMURTRIE) Sgt. Navigator.
The Commanding Officer, R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Whenuapai
FHIV