Glowing Orange Object  Buzzes U.S.S. Lexington
- Mid 1960s -

(Photo of U.S.S. Lexington)
(Ship Was in Operation From 1941 to 1990)

Photo of F4 Phantom Aircraft

Location of Sighting: Gulf of Mexico Aboard U.S.S. Lexington
(Exact Location - Unknown)
Date of Sighting: (1962 to 1966 - Exact Date Unknown)
Time of Sighting: Around Midnight
Date Reported: February 12, 2005
Number of Witnesses: Several Crew Members (Exact Number Unknown)

Description (In Witness's Own Words With Some Editing): While serving aboard the U.S.S. Lexington CVS-16 (aircraft carrier) I was an elevator operator for aircraft.  One night around 12 midnight I saw a large orange glow in the sky. I called flight deck control.  They said they had it on radar and tried to get it to identify itself. When they got no reply, they sent 2 F4s jets up.  You could see their after burners and the F4s did not even come close to catching it.  The object (light) took off out of sight.  As soon as the jets returned, it came back.  This pattern repeated itself 3 times.  After the 3rd time guess they thought it was no threat. It followed us for about half hr I guess then left. We were told the next day to say nothing about the sightings. I wish I had at least written down time/day/year, but did not. Even years after I did not know who to report it to, Then as time elapsed more I figured no one would believe me. I just got thought that I would report it as I remembered it. We were operating in the gulf of Mexico out of Pensacola Fl. I worked the hanger deck elevator.  I was in the V3 division/aircraft handlers.

Investigator's Notes:  I have mailed the witness a list of additional questions and asked for some clarifications of his experience.  I received a response to my follow-up questions.  The witness confirmed that his tenure in the Navy was from 1962 to 1966 and that he does not remember the year of the sighting. I was hopeful that the witness may be able to reach other personnel who were privy to the sighting.  However, he said that he was not in touch with any of his fellow servicemen who experienced the sighting.  The witness also further stated that no nuclear weapons were on the U.S.S. Lexington at the time of the sighting. He stated that F4 Phantom aircraft were scrambled after the UFO.  (See photo of F4 Phantoms above.) He was uncertain as to the location of the ship when the UFO was sighted.  He did say that the event occurred in the Gulf of Mexico several hundred miles from the Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Station. Apparently he was debriefed  by petty officers after the sighting and at that time was told not to say anything about the sighting.    Having testimony from other crew members who were privy to the sighting would greatly strengthen the case.  I plan to look through documents released through the Freedom of Information Act to see if the U.S. Navy acknowledged that this incident occurred.  This sighting is interesting because it apparently involved both radar and visual sightings.  Other reports of UFOs following ships have been reported.  (Many of these ships were carrying nuclear weapons.)