THINK ABOUTIT UFO SIGHTING REPORT
Date: February 28, 1904
Sighting Time: 6:10 a.m.
Day/Night: Day
Location: Pacific Ocean off San Francisco, California
Urban or Rural: -water
Hynek Classification: CE-I (Close Encounter I) Observation of an object in close proximity to the witness (i.e. within 500’)
Duration: The entire event lasted over two minutes.
No. of Object(s): three
Size of Object(s): about the size of six suns, and the other two were smaller and round.
Distance to Object(s): The report indicates the objects appeared near the horizon and moved directly toward the ship before soaring. Based on the angular size described as “about 3 degrees of arc” (the size of six suns), this suggests a relatively close proximity during the mid-point of the sighting before the objects ascended.
Shape of Object(s): egg-shaped
Color of Object(s): The objects were described as “remarkable meteors,” which typically implies a brilliant, glowing, or incandescent appearance. The comparison to the sun further suggests a bright white or golden-yellow luminosity.
Number of Witnesses: Multiple
Source: NICAP / Richard Hall (1964) citing “Monthly Weather Review” (1904)
Summary/Description: One of the earliest formation cases was reported February 28, 1904, by a ship in the North Pacific off San Francisco. 
Three members of the crew of the USS Supply, at 6:10 a.m. local time, sighted an echelon formation of three “remarkable meteors” which appeared near the horizon below clouds, moving directly toward the ship. As they approached, the UFOs began soaring, rose above the cloud layer, and were observed climbing into space, still in echelon. The lead object was egg-shaped and about the size of six suns (about 3 degrees of arc). The other two were smaller and appeared to be perfectly round. They remained visible for over two minutes. (Meteors, of course, do not travel in echelon formation, change course and climb, nor remain visible for two minutes).
Historical Context: The USS Supply and the Pre-Aviation Era
In February 1904, the world was on the cusp of the aviation age, yet the USS Supply sighting occurred in a sky essentially devoid of man-made machines. The USS Supply was an active-duty naval vessel serving as a transport and supply ship for the Asiatic Station, manned by professional sailors trained in maritime observation and celestial navigation.
During this period, any anomalous aerial light was almost reflexively categorized as a “meteor” or “bolide,” as there was no other available terminology for structured craft in the upper atmosphere. However, the behavior described by the crew—specifically the echelon formation and the deliberate soaring maneuver above the cloud layer—completely defies the physics of natural meteoric events. Natural meteors do not change course, nor do they travel in synchronized patterns for over two minutes while maintaining a steady formation.
Witness Deep Dive: Admiral Frank H. Schofield’s Observation
The credibility of this case is bolstered by the primary witness, Frank H. Schofield, who was a lieutenant at the time but eventually rose to the rank of Rear Admiral and served as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Fleet. His official report, published in the Monthly Weather Review, provides a clinical, precise account of the three objects.
Schofield noted that the lead object was egg-shaped and massive, appearing roughly the size of six suns, while the two trailing objects were perfectly round and smaller. The objects were not merely passing by; they appeared below the clouds and moved directly toward the ship before performing an abrupt climb into space. This implies an intelligent response to the presence of the USS Supply and a level of propulsion that was non-existent in terrestrial technology in 1904.
Modern Analysis: Echelon Formations and UAP Physics
The echelon formation reported in 1904 is strikingly similar to modern Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) encounters reported by Navy pilots in the 21st century. Modern sensor data from incidents like the “Gimbal” or “GoFast” videos often show multiple objects traveling in coordinated groups, exhibiting what is now termed “Global Reach” or trans-medium travel.
When the USS Supply crew saw the objects climbing into space, they were witnessing what we now recognize as high-altitude loitering or orbital transition—capabilities that are still considered revolutionary today. By documenting this case, we see that the patterns of UFO behavior—formation flight, interest in military vessels, and extreme vertical acceleration—have remained consistent for over 120 years.
Source Analysis: The Credibility of the Monthly Weather Review
The primary documentation for the USS Supply sighting is not found in sensationalist tabloids, but in the March 1904 edition of the Monthly Weather Review. At the time, this publication served as a critical peer-reviewed outlet for maritime and meteorological data, making it a highly credible source for anomalous reports. By publishing Lieutenant Schofield’s precise observations, the scientific community of 1904 acknowledged that these objects were physical, observable phenomena that didn’t fit known atmospheric models. This formal record ensures that the USS Supply encounter remains one of the best-documented military UFO cases in pre-modern history.
The 1904 USS Supply encounter is more than a historical curiosity; it is a foundational case that demonstrates the long-term persistence of UAP activity around naval assets. The fact that trained observers like Admiral Schofield witnessed circular, structured craft performing advanced formation maneuvers decades before the Wright brothers’ flight suggests a non-human intelligence was already active in our skies. As we look back from 2026, this case bridges the gap between early maritime “mysteries” and modern national security concerns, proving that the technology we are only now beginning to understand has been operating with impunity for over a century.
