NUFORC Sighting 15374

Occurred: 2000-10-26 13:48 Local
Reported: 2000-12-03 00:00 Pacific
Duration: 45 seconds
No of observers: 0

Location: Panama City Beach, FL, USA

Shape: Other

Unusual Military Movements Off of Western Shore of Shell Island Panama City Beach

Daylight sighting from beach, clear day temps in 80s. I was staying on Panama City Beach (Baltimore Beach facing west) very near to St.Andrews (Shell Island) Park enterence. Being a former member of my local MUFON I was keeping a eye open during my stay in PCB, but didn't see anything of interest except for some very strange Military activity. The Beach was buzzed by F-18s each day during my stay at odd hours. This day though while on the beach with two other friends, I was watch- ing strange boat activity on the horizen. Just as one F-18 buzzed the beach with a over head flight, I was observing one of the military craft on the horizen (to the South-West). I wittnessed something launch ed from the boat that skimmed the water heading directly south from the craft with a flight duration of 45 seconds to one minute before splash down and then the F-18 left the beach as if its engine was used to mask the sound of the launch. I was using 10 by 25 fully coated opitics to watch the sight. At first I dismissed the sighting as military training being that there are several bases in the area, and you have to train somewhere after all. But with the f-18s buzzing the beach every day and the recent mass beaching of deep sea sharks on the eastern shore of Shell Island (Oct 18-22,2000). I felt that this sighting should be reported to some one.

Posted 2000-12-09