USS Enterprise CVN-65 Encounter 1969

In March 1969, USS Enterprise (CVN-65) — the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier — was operating in the Western Pacific when multiple unidentified objects appeared in proximity to the carrier strike group. Carrier Air Wing Nine aircraft including F-4 Phantoms from VF-96 Fighting Falcons were vectored toward the contacts. Pilots made both visual and radar contact with spherical objects performing maneuvers inconsistent with any aircraft. The objects descended to within 200 feet of the ocean surface before ascending to 5,000 feet instantaneously. Enterprise's Combat Information Center tracked multiple contacts simultaneously. Given that Enterprise was the Navy's first nuclear carrier, any security incident was automatically classified under special compartment procedures. The ship's commanding officer filed a classified OPREP-3 report to CINCPAC. The incident is documented in researcher notes from declassified AATIP files as one of multiple Navy nuclear vessel encounters.