Guadalcanal: Silvery disc circles fleet, fired upon
On October 9 or 10, 1942, a sailor aboard USS Helm observed a silvery disc-shaped object with a dome approaching the fleet near Guadalcanal. Ships fired on it as it circled twice before speeding away south at estimated 10,000 mph.
Background
Witnesses and Observation
A sailor on watch aboard the destroyer USS Helm, which was escorting transports and patrolling off Guadalcanal, spotted the object. It approached on a false radio beam, following radar contact from a cruiser. He used binoculars and saw a silver disc with a dome on top, at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
Course of Events
As it closed to 9,000 feet, all ships went to battle stations. Crews opened fire but had difficulty aiming because of the high speed. The object turned sharply to the right, flew south, accelerated, circled the fleet twice in 5 minutes, and disappeared southward.
Estimates and Sources
A gunnery officer estimated the maximum speed at up to 10,000 mph. Reported by Paul C. Cerny and Robert Neville in the MUFON UFO Journal (July 1983); also in Strange Company.