At the time Father Gill’s UFO story was taken very seriously - questions were raised in
Parliament and the RAAF launched a formal investigation.
On 24 November 1959, ED Cash, who was a Liberal member of Parliament, asked the
Minister for Air, FM Osborne, if the government had investigated the sightings in Papua.
Osborne's response was that they were still waiting for more evidence before making an
"official" report.
In his words: "Most sightings of UFOs are explained and only a very small percentage-
something like three percent-of reported sightings of flying objects cannot be explained."
The RAAF finally interviewed Father Gill in December 1959, some six months after the
sightings. Gill related that the interview consisted of two officers who talked about stars and
planets, and then left. He heard no more from the two.
“Although the Reverend Gill could be regarded as a reliable observer,” Squadron Leader FA.
Lang stated, “it is felt that the June-July incidents could have been nothing more than natural
phenomena coloured by past events and subconscious influences of UFO enthusiasts.
“During the period of the report the weather was cloudy and unsettled with light thunder
storm. Although it is not possible to draw firm conclusions, an analysis of rough bearings and
angles above the horizon does suggest that at least some of the lights observed were the
planets Jupiter, Saturn and Mars.”
The sketch above was used on the cover of Father Gill’s original report.