Maybe it's all a prank/hoax perpetrated by pilots and tolerated by Navy command, who perhaps see some value in muddying the waters about what's real or isn't real, sowing doubt about the technology America might have, confuse America's rivals.

I've noticed that the people who think the alleged Navy sightings are genuine seem to generally believe that Navy pilots are beyond reproach, all work no play, never perpetrate hoaxes, never misread their instruments, never get deceived by their own senses, etc etc. From listening to them, you'd get the impression that the testimony of Navy pilots is the firmest sort of scientific evidence.

Well I've met a small number of Naval aviators, and I can tell you that although they were professionals, they were also human. Punking the public for shits and giggles is a real possibility with them.