UFO Encounters in 1975: Unsolved Mysteries Above Yugoslavia

In January and February of 1975, pilots from the 172nd Aviation Regiment in what was then Yugoslavia reported a series of unexplained aerial phenomena. Night after night, they observed a glowing orb hovering above the skies of Montenegro and the Adriatic Sea, moving at speeds beyond the capabilities of any known aircraft. These encounters have remained one of the most intriguing mysteries in European UFO history.

Filmmaker Miloš Škundrić, who has conducted interviews with numerous witnesses from that period, is currently working on a film titled “Šifra Vuk” inspired by these extraordinary events. In an interview, Škundrić detailed the experiences of the pilots and articulated why he believes the incidents represent the most credible UFO sightings in Europe.

What Pilots Encountered in 1975

According to Škundrić, the phenomenon began in mid-January and persisted into February. Pilots reported sightings of a luminous sphere traversing the areas around Lovćen, Cetinje, and down the Adriatic coast to Dubrovnik. This phenomenon was observed simultaneously by multiple pilots, defying conventional physics.

Describing one encounter, Škundrić recounted a night flight involving a G-2 “Galeb” military aircraft. An African cadet and his Yugoslav instructor witnessed a massive yellowish orb that first hovered in the sky before abruptly changing direction and disappearing over the sea. This was just one of many close encounters that captivated the pilots of the Yugoslav Air Force (JRV).

Military Response and Initial Skepticism

During this time, the Yugoslav military was at its peak, facing tensions with Italy and maintaining delicate relations with NATO. The appearance of the unidentified object presented a significant challenge to military operations. Colonel Zvonko Jurjević, the commander of the 172nd Regiment, initially dismissed the pilots’ reports as possible meteorological balloons or optical illusions. However, his skepticism changed after he personally witnessed the object during a pursuit along the Adriatic coast.

On one occasion, Jurjević and twelve aircraft attempted to intercept the UFO, which managed to evade capture repeatedly. Despite the growing body of reports, military command in Belgrade reacted with skepticism, suggesting that the pilots were perhaps under the influence of alcohol.

The situation escalated dramatically when a naval vessel, the “Galeb,” reported a sighting while carrying Marshal Tito. This incident prompted a more serious investigation from the highest levels of the military.

High-Level Military Engagements

General Enver Ćemalović, the commander of the Air Force, ordered the deployment of supersonic MiG-21 jets armed with guided missiles to engage the object, which was given the code name “Vuk.” Unfortunately, each time the jets arrived, the UFO vanished, leading to frustration and diminishing confidence in the reports from the southern regions.

The phenomenon was not only a source of intrigue but also prompted significant military maneuvers. When a pilot, Captain Ivan Mamić, was ordered to fire upon the object, he described how it executed maneuvers that seemed almost otherworldly, disappearing and reappearing in an instant. After several failed attempts to engage, the military was instructed to continue training while largely ignoring the sightings.

In an unexpected twist, the UFO reappeared directly above the Golubovci airfield, where it began to pulse its lights before vanishing once more.

Lasting Impact and Ongoing Mysteries

Following these events, sightings of the object ceased, and many believed it had disappeared forever. Observations of similar unidentified objects were reported in later years, including a sighting by JRV pilots in Zadar in 1986, and even by American pilots during the NATO intervention in 1999.

Describing the UFO, pilots recalled a glowing sphere that emitted a warm, almost living light, capable of moving at hypersonic speeds and then suddenly stopping. Radar systems detected an object the size of a Boeing 747 traveling at speeds of up to 7,000 kilometers per hour, yet it would vanish as soon as an aircraft got close.

Unfortunately, much of the documentary evidence from this period was lost when the JRV command center was bombed in 1999. Today, only flight logs, personal notes, and interviews conducted by Škundrić with key witnesses remain.

Škundrić believes that these events encapsulate a significant moment in history when pilots believed they could dominate the skies, only to confront an enigma that defied all logic. His film, “Šifra Vuk“, aims not only to recount the mysterious sightings but also to explore the courage and fear experienced by those who faced the unknown, echoing the idea that the “Vuk” may still linger above Montenegro, waiting for a new generation to provide an explanation.