Boianai: Father Gill and the figures on the craft
In their own words
“We watched figures appear on top - four of them - no doubt that they are human. … One figure seemed to be standing looking down at us (a group of about a dozen). I stretched my arm above my head and waved to our surprise the figure did the same. Ananias waved both arms over his head then the two outside figures did the same. Ananias and self began waving our arms and all four now seemed to wave back. There seemed to be no doubt that our movements were answered.”
Over several evenings in June 1959, the Anglican priest Rev. William Booth Gill and dozens of Papuan mission staff, teachers and pupils reported lights over Goodenough Bay near Boianai. On 26 June, 38 people watched a large lit object, with four "legs" below, for long periods. Figures that looked human appeared on its upper "deck". On 27 June Gill waved, the figures seemed to wave back, and the object appeared to respond to torch signals. Gill kept contemporaneous notes. On the night of 26 June he had three observers draw what they saw separately, and, by his account, 27 of the 38 witnesses signed a statement. Civilian groups forwarded his report to Prime Minister Menzies and to the RAAF. The RAAF file in the National Archives of Australia holds that report. It also holds a later Directorate of Air Force Intelligence minute stating that, after investigation, the RAAF had concluded the Boianai sightings "were either known planets seen through fast-moving cloud, or natural phenomena". The official trail is solid on what was reported and what the RAAF concluded. The RAAF's own investigation papers for Boianai were not in the part I read.
Evidence, in date order (4)
- 1959RAAF Directorate of Air Force Intelligenceofficialofficial file holds Gill's report and records the case National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch (A703, 580/1/1 Part 2; barcode 645647)
- 26 Jun 1959Ananias Raratawitnessdrew the object separately on the night of 26 June Mirror copy of NAA A703 580/1/1 Part 2 (read)
- 26 Jun 1959Stephen Gill Moiwitnessdrew the object separately on the night of 26 June Mirror copy of NAA A703 580/1/1 Part 2 (read)
- 26 Jun 195927 of 38 mission witnessesdocumentsigned Gill's written statement Mirror copy of NAA A703 580/1/1 Part 2 (read)
How plausible · High
A named priest kept notes at the time, others drew the object separately and 27 people signed a statement; the RAAF file holds the report.
- ●●Access Watched it for hours.
- ●●No gain sought A missionary; nothing sold.
- ●●Consistent over time Same account for decades.
- ●●Character record Anglican priest and teachers.
- ●●Independent convergence 27 signed witnesses; separate sketches.
- ●●Checkable details check out RAAF file.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
On the record
- The DAFI minute (official, NAA A703 580/1/1 Pt 2, PDF p. 54): the Gill sighting "was very similar and occurred under almost identical weather conditions. On that occasion, after investigation, we concluded that the sightings were either known planets seen through fast-moving cloud, or natural phenomena." The minute adds that Gill's objects "were brightly lit and, in one case, allegedly contained humanoid beings."
- The civilian societies' letter to Menzies (in the RAAF file) says that, as of DAFI's reply of 15 October 1959, the Directorate "claims to have carried out no investigations into the incidents". This is the official file, quoting the DAFI reply secondhand. It conflicts with the later minute's "after investigation". Unresolved.
- Gill's procedure, as recorded on 26 June (official file copy of the witness's own record): 38 witnesses were gathered in a lit room. Three of them (William Gill, Ananias Rarata and Stephen Gill Moi) drew the object separately. "27 observers of a total of 38 voluntarily signed".
- The weather Gill recorded: "variable sky - scattered clouds to clear at first, becoming overcast after 10.10 p.m."; cloud height about 2,000 ft (file copy).