03.45S 168.19W (Pacific), March 1963March 1963

On the evening of March 15, 1963, sailors aboard the USS Durant spotted a white blinking light in the Pacific Ocean at coordinates 03.45 South, 168.19 West. A lookout saw the light at dusk, using binoculars to observe it. The light appeared on the horizon at zero degrees elevation and an azimuth of 340 degrees (roughly north-northwest).

The light blinked on and off at irregular intervals. Each time it came on, it stayed visible for about half a second. The off periods varied, but two intervals were timed precisely: one lasted 35 seconds, and another lasted 20 seconds. The light changed position during the sighting, disappearing at zero degrees elevation and 245 degrees azimuth (roughly southwest) after about 15 minutes of observation.

The USS Durant was operating in warm conditions with rain squalls in the area. Surface winds blew from 258 degrees at 15 knots. The witnesses included a junior lieutenant serving as officer of the deck, an ensign also on watch, and a sailor working as a lookout. All were rated as excellent observers. Weather and upper-atmosphere wind data were not available.

The Air Force investigators noted that the sighting's long duration made it unlikely to be aircraft, and the irregular blinking pattern made it seem unlike a typical surface vessel light. However, they could not determine what the object actually was. One Navy assessment of the case stated that "there was nothing in the report to indicate that anything other than a misidentified conventional object was noted, but it is impossible to say just exactly what the conventional item was." The Air Force marked the case as unknown.

The full case file is reproduced below as held by the National Archives across 10 pages.