Minot AFB — B-52 radar and missile-field sightings
Before dawn, maintenance and security teams at several Minuteman sites reported a large glowing object. A B-52 returning to Minot was asked to look for it. Its radar navigator painted a target that stayed about a mile off the bomber, and radarscope photographs were taken. The UHF radio dropped out when the object was closest. After landing, the crew described a bright light near the ground. Blue Book closed it within weeks. It is one of the best-documented military cases in the files.
Explanation
Blue Book's conclusion: ground sightings were probably the B-52 and the star Sirius; the radar contact and the B-52's temporary loss of UHF radio were "possibly plasma", similar to ball lightning; the crew's sighting could have been the star Vega or a light on the ground.
What was seen
Shape: Large glowing orange object
Witnesses: Missile maintenance and security teams; B-52 crew
Duration: About 3 hours
Sources
Browse
- United States
- 1960s
- Disputed
- Military encounters
- Official government documents
- Military witnesses
- Pilot and aircrew witnesses
- Photographs
- Radar tracking
- Reported electromagnetic effects
- Lights and fireballs