Mystery of pilot who vanished after spotting a UFO still endures 44 years on

[UM-Bot]

Back in 1978, Frederick Valentich disappeared without a trace after encountering a UFO on a flight to King Island, Tasmania.

https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/361418/mystery-of-pilot-who-vanished-after-spotting-a-ufo-endures-44-years-on

[jethrofloyd]

I remember a few years ago I read an article about the another possible explanation. According to that theory Valentich unknowingly flew into the 'meteor shower', and that was what killed him.

 

 

 

 

 

[Gumball]

I love the Valentich case. It's a true unknown. So many ideas as to what happened and no answers. The fact they never found his plane is great but also the fact that they can't work out why he flew in the first place. Most of the explanations are ridiculous and many Australian researchers have tried to solve it. Hopefully, like the Somerton man answers will eventually be found.

Edited October 23, 2022 by Gumball

[DreadLordAvatar]

Here’s the Unsolved Mystery episode, they did a great job detailing this case:

https://youtu.be/-Isy8ZfJf-Q?t=13m44s

[jethrofloyd]

This case is always interesting, but how credible can en a 20-year-old's radio-testimony be? I don't want to sound harsh, but he was still a teenager.

[Piney]

34 minutes ago, jethrofloyd said:

This case is always interesting, but how credible can en a 20-year-old's radio-testimony be? I don't want to sound harsh, but he was still a teenager.

There was always jokes and pranks going on between CB and HAM operators. I once got on our farm's base station, turned on a Black Country accent, called myself "Tommy" and portrayed a drunk Yammy. 

[curiouse]

Absolutely amazing mystery, I have heard the audio, it’s creepy as. There’s a plaque mentioning Fredrick disappearance and the mention of this ufo encounter.

[Poncho_Peanatus]

I read, years ago that what he saw was his own reflection in the waters, he was flying upside down and didnt realize it.

[Phil1684]

I remember when this happened. I heard it the first time on the Paul Harvey radio program. Mr. Harvey said the pilot was speaking and there was a loud

[Phil1684]

I remember when this happened. I heard it the first time on the Paul Harvey radio program. Mr. Harvey said the pilot was speaking and there was a loud

[the13bats]

I never found this case all that odd there are countless missing aircraft and while it sounds cool to blame it on paranirmal reasons not once has that been the proven cause of disappearance.

This was a 20 yo kid and we cant prove he wasnt on drugs, drinking or simply sadly incompetent.

 

[Alchopwn]

This happened before I started living in Melbourne.  It really is a quaint old city.  Lots of old Victorian era buildings.  

As to poor Fred Valentich, what isn't stated is that prior to his disappearance is that he was a big UFO enthusiast, and he was having loads of personal issues around the time of his disappearance.

The UFO sighting in Melbourne which did my head in was:

 

Edited November 8, 2022 by Alchopwn

[psyche101]

Not sure why people think this is a mystery.

A broken part of his plane washed up. He crashed into Bass Strait. 

@the13bats he actually was a lousy pilot. Failed time after time trying to get his licence. His reputation was very poor in that regard.

His father and family were UFO nuts. His father started the UFO rumours.

Edited November 10, 2022 by psyche101

[the13bats]

28 minutes ago, psyche101 said:

Not sure why people think this is a mystery.

A broken part of his plane washed up. He crashed into Bass Strait. 

@the13bats he actually was a lousy pilot. Failed time after time trying to get his licence. His reputation was very poor in that regard.

His father and family were UFO nuts. His father started the UFO rumours.

Thank you! I didnt follow up this one much because it was mundane to me.

Many well known cases involve "ufo nuts".

 

[psyche101]

39 minutes ago, the13bats said:

Thank you! I didnt follow up this one much because it was mundane to me.

Many well known cases involve "ufo nuts".

 

No worries glad to help

Everything anyone wanted to know, or not lol, is well condensed at this link:

https://skepticalinquirer.org/2013/11/the-valentich-disappearance-another-ufo-cold-case-solved/

 

[Ell]

It seems to me that there may indeed have been a ufo present and that that ufo deliberately interfered with the young man's plane's engine, causing his plane to crash.

 

But why? Merely to eliminate a witness?

[the13bats]

16 hours ago, psyche101 said:

No worries glad to help

Everything anyone wanted to know, or not lol, is well condensed at this link:

https://skepticalinquirer.org/2013/11/the-valentich-disappearance-another-ufo-cold-case-solved/

 

 

That site is great, very unbiased and open to what evidence is there.

[the13bats]

14 hours ago, Ell said:

It seems to me that there may indeed have been a ufo present and that that ufo deliberately interfered with the young man's plane's engine, causing his plane to crash.

 

But why? Merely to eliminate a witness?

Then it was an epic fail on the UFOs part as believers still grasp at it decades later.

[Ell]

56 minutes ago, the13bats said:

Then it was an epic fail on the UFOs part as believers still grasp at it decades later.

For what reason did he go to King's Island / Tasmania?

[the13bats]

Just now, Ell said:

For what reason did he go to King's Island / Tasmania?

 

When i was 20 i thought i knew it all and being a gear head a group of us would late night street race our hot rods, very stupid and dangerous.

I think a dreamy fantasy based 20 yo green as grass pilot who wasnt a good one went joy flying and lack of experience etc cost him his life no aliens needed.

If i had wrapped my camaro around a tree i wouldnt need to blame wood nymphs.