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David Fravor

Commander · U.S. Navy (retired)
Credibility
7.0
Confidence
7.0
Info completeness
8.0

Before the sighting

Career naval aviator: USMC enlistee at 17, USNA, ~18 years jet pilot by 2004, TOPGUN, multiple combat tours, took command of VFA-41 one month before incident.

During the sighting

14 Nov 2004 ~100-140 mi SW of San Diego. Vectored by USS Princeton radar; visually acquired white Tic Tac-shaped object ~40 ft, no wings/exhaust, mirroring his descent then rapidly accelerating. Co-witnesses: Lt. Cmdr. Alex Dietrich + 2 WSOs; Lt. Cmdr. Chad Underwood captured FLIR video on follow-up sortie.

After the sighting

Retired 2006. Simulator instructor Fidelity Technologies. Low profile until Dec 2017 NYT disclosure. Major media since: 60 Minutes 2021, Joe Rogan 2019, Lex Fridman 2020. Sworn testimony before House Oversight 26 Jul 2023.

Research notes

Strong process credibility: TOPKGUN-trained O-5 squadron CO at time of sighting, multiple corroborating co-witnesses, FLIR video, sworn congressional testimony. Discounted by inter-witness inconsistencies and post-2017 speaking-circuit incentive.

Linked events (1)