Recreation of the October 24, 1989, encounter between a V-shaped craft and the USS Memphis.
THINK ABOUTIT UFO SIGHTINGS REPORT
On October 24, 1989, while on a special assignment patrol near the Florida coast, the nuclear submarine USS Memphis experienced a total systems failure, including out-of-control tanks and reactor malfunctions. Upon surfacing, the crew observed a massive, inverted V-shaped UFO over a half-mile across. The craft emitted a red neon-like glow that stopped the rain beneath it and caused the ocean water to rise nearly a foot as it passed silently over the stern. The encounter concluded with the craft accelerating at tremendous speed, followed by the immediate reassignment and splitting of the entire 4-year crew by military authorities.
Date: October 24, 1989
Sighting Time: Night
Day/Night: Night
Location: 150 miles off the Florida Coast (assigned to Titusville/Cape Canaveral)
Urban or Rural: Rural (Oceanic/Open Sea)
No. of Entity(‘s): 0
Entity Type:
Entity Description:
Hynek Classification: CE-II (Close Encounter of the Second Kind – Physical Effect)
Duration: 15-second departure after a period of hovering/maneuvering
No. of Object(s): 1
Appearance / Description of the Object(s): Huge inverted V-shaped vessel with a red glow
Distance to Object(s): 200 meters to 1,000 meters (confirmed by laser range finder)
Height & Speed: Hovered at 45° angle; departed at tremendous speed within 15 seconds
Shape of Object(s): Inverted V-shaped
Size of Object(s): Over a half-mile across; distance confirmed by laser range finder (200m to 1,000m)
Color of Object(s): Red
Number of Witnesses: Multiple (Captain, Executive Officer, and at least three enlisted men)
Special Features/Characteristics: Caused reactor shutdown, total electronics failure, stopped rain under its glow, and displaced ocean water (risen nearly a foot)
Source: Anonymous Sailor (assigned to USS Memphis SSN-698)
Summary/Description: A massive V-shaped craft intercepted the nuclear submarine USS Memphis, causing critical system malfunctions before a rapid departure. The entire crew was subsequently reassigned and separated to suppress the incident.
Full Report
October 24, 1989 – A sailor reports about the UFO sighting he had while in the Navy. “I was assigned to USS Memphis (SSN-698), Homeport – Titusville, FL. (Cape Canaveral.)
Our mission was Special Assignments which meant we protected the Space Program. We would go to sea and patrol while the shuttle was on the pad.
On October 24 and 25, 1989, my ship was on patrol about 150 miles of the Florida coast. We were cruising at about 500 feet when the submarine started experiencing electronics problems.
The ship was malfunctioning, our tanks were blowing out of control, we were losing navigation ability and the communications area was totally lost.
We went to all stop and tried to access what was happening. The controls in the reactor area started to malfunction. This presented a serious danger to our safety, so the captain ordered us to shut down the reactor, surface, and go to diesel motors.
When the ship surfaced I went to my watch station. The ship was still experiencing electronic difficulties but mechanical devices such as diesel engines, cook stoves, and turbines were fine.
It was raining and the entire sky was red like a red neon sign.
I saw a large inverted V-shaped UFO off the port side. The executive officer told me to stand fast and he would speak to the captain. In a minute, the captain appeared on the tower and asked me for a distance to the craft.
The laser range finder determined the closest point was 200 meters, and the farthest point was 1,000 meters off the port. The UFO was not perpendicular to our ship but at about a 45′ angle.
This huge vessel was over a half-mile across. The UFO made a half-circle around our ship then passed across the stern causing our electronics systems to go crazy.
We had permanent damage in communications and the sonar room. As the craft flew over the stern, I could see the rain stop under its red glow.
The water seemed to rise almost afoot as the UFO passed over silently. When the UFO finished its swing across the stern it paused – the sky got brighter red and it simply moved off at tremendous speed inside 15 seconds.
When the UFO left, our boat returned to normal with the exception of the radio and sonar. We did a quick system check and the captain ordered us to return to reactor power and get underway.
The captain took two petty officers, the executive officer, and myself into the wardroom. He told us to not spread any rumors until we had a chance to talk to Commander Submarine Fleet – Atlantic.
We reached port in about 7 hours where I was taken into “protective custody.”
Two enlisted men and I agreed we had witnessed a real UFO. I was the one who shot it with a laser range finder, so I was the only one that had its exact sizes. I shot that vessel as it hovered and I got solid readings, not spotty like I would on debris.
We were in holding for about three hours when an officer from the Air Force arrived and gave us a line of bull about an exploding weather satellite.
The Navy then transferred virtually everyone on the crew to new assignments.
This included the captain, the executive officer and the entire crew. They were split up which almost never happens unless one of them gets a promotion or a new command, neither of which happened.
The military just split up a 4 year team. I was watching a program tonight that gave me the courage to share it.
Published: 4:00 PM 8/11/2011
October 24, 1989 – A sailor reports about the UFO sighting he had while in the Navy. “I was assigned to USS Memphis (SSN-698), Homeport – Titusville, FL. (Cape Canaveral.)
Our mission was Special Assignments which meant we protected the Space Program. We would go to sea and patrol while the shuttle was on the pad.
On October 24 and 25, 1989, my ship was on patrol about 150 miles of the Florida coast. We were cruising at about 500 feet when the submarine started experiencing electronics problems.
The ship was malfunctioning, our tanks were blowing out of control, we were losing navigation ability and the communications area was totally lost.
We went to all stop and tried to access what was happening. The controls in the reactor area started to malfunction. This presented a serious danger to our safety, so the captain ordered us to shut down the reactor, surface and go to diesel motors.
When the ship surfaced I went to my watch station. The ship was still experiencing electronic difficulties but the mechanical devices such as diesel engines, cook stoves, and turbines were fine.
It was raining and the entire sky was red like a red neon sign.
I saw a large inverted V-shaped UFO off the port side. The executive officer told me to stand fast and he would speak to the captain. In a minute, the captain appeared on the tower and asked me for a distance to the craft.
The laser range finder determined the closest point was 200 meters, and the farthest point was 1,000 meters off the port. The UFO was not perpendicular to our ship but at about a 45′ angle.
This huge vessel was over a half mile across. The UFO made a half circle around our ship then passed across the stern causing our electronics systems to go crazy.
We had permanent damage in communications and the sonar room. As the craft flew over the stern, I could see the rain stop under its red glow.
The water seemed to rise almost a foot as the UFO passed over silently. When the UFO finished its swing across the stern it paused – the sky got brighter red and it simply moved off at tremendous speed inside 15 seconds.
When the UFO left, our boat returned to normal with the exception of the radio and sonar. We did a quick system check and the captain ordered us to return to reactor power and get underway.
The captain took two petty officers, the executive officer, and myself into the wardroom. He told us to not spread any rumors until we had a chance to talk to Commander Submarine Fleet – Atlantic.
We reached port in about 7 hours where I was taken into “protective custody.”
Two enlisted men and myself agreed we had witnessed a real UFO. I was the one who shot it with a laser range finder, so I was the only one that had its exact sizes. I shot that vessel as it hovered and I got solid readings, not spotty like I would on debris.
We were in holding for about three hours when an officer from the Air Force arrived and gave us a line of bull about an exploding weather satellite.
The Navy then transferred virtually everyone on the crew to new assignments.
This included the captain, the executive officer and the entire crew. They were split up which almost never happens unless one of them gets a promotion or a new command, neither of which happened.
The military just split up a 4 year team. I was watching a program tonight that gave me the courage to share it.
Researcher’s Notes
The October 1989 encounter involving the USS Memphis (SSN-698) represents one of the most significant “Physical Effect” (CE-II) cases in naval history. Unlike standard aerial sightings, this event involved a direct technological interaction between an unidentified craft and a nuclear-powered submarine’s critical systems. The primary witness—the sailor operating the laser range finder—was able to obtain “solid readings” on the object, confirming a structured, physical vessel rather than a natural phenomenon or space debris. The ranging data placed the craft between 200 and 1,000 meters from the submarine, allowing for a precise size estimation of over half a mile across.
The physical anomalies reported are scientifically notable for two reasons:
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Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): The craft’s proximity caused a total failure of the submarine’s electronics, communication arrays, and even malfunctions within the reactor control area, necessitating a shutdown and transition to diesel power.
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Atmospheric/Hydrodynamic Displacement: The report specifically mentions that the rain stopped under the craft’s red glow and the sea level rose nearly one foot as it passed over the stern. This suggests a propulsion system that potentially manipulates gravity or creates a localized vacuum/pressure field.
The immediate “protective custody” of the witnesses and the unprecedented decision to split up a four-year crew shortly after the event strongly suggests a high-level military effort to compartmentalize information regarding a severe national security breach.
The USS Memphis incident stands as a compelling testament to the high-stakes reality of military encounters with unidentified aerial and submerged phenomena during the late Cold War era. Unlike civilian reports that often rely on subjective testimony, this case is anchored by the objective data of a laser range finder and the undeniable physical consequences of a nuclear submarine suffering total electronic failure in the presence of a V-shaped craft. The scale of the vessel—estimated at over half a mile across—and its ability to influence local physical conditions like rain and sea levels suggest a level of technology that remains a subject of intense archival interest.
Ultimately, the legacy of the October 24, 1989, sighting is defined by the extreme measures taken by military authorities to suppress the event, notably the unprecedented decision to dismantle a seasoned four-year crew. By preserving this report within the Oceanic Sightings and 1989 Sightings archives, we ensure that the testimony of those aboard the SSN-698 is not lost to time. It remains a critical piece of evidence for researchers investigating the intersection of national security, advanced propulsion, and the enduring mystery of the “solid light” phenomena.
