For decades, UFO sightings have captivated the imagination of people around the world. However, when these sightings occur over or near military air force bases, the intrigue deepens, merging the enigma of unidentified flying objects with the high-stakes world of national security. Military bases, with their strategic significance, advanced technology, and, in many cases, nuclear capabilities, become focal points for these unexplained phenomena.
Why do UFOs appear so frequently around these high-security installations? Are these sightings the result of extraterrestrial beings conducting covert surveillance of our military might, or could they be advanced, secretive human technologies? This intertwining of military security and UFO activity raises crucial questions: Are these objects scouting potential vulnerabilities in our defense systems, or are they showcasing the cutting-edge developments of reverse-engineered technology?
Perhaps a good place to start would be with the multiple UFO encounters at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. In the early hours of October 24th, 1968, around 1 am, while most residents of North Dakota were likely asleep, a security team at the Oscar-6 launch facility at Minot Air Force Base observed a “large glowing object” overhead.
The team, responsible for overseeing an underground operation by the Target Alignment Team, immediately reported the sighting to their superior, Security Controller Staff Sergeant William Smith. They described the object as having descended near some trees close to the base.
Later, around 2:30 am, missile maintenance crew members Robert O’Connor and Lloyd Isley reported seeing an “unusual light” east of the base. At the time, they were driving to the N-7 launch facility and noted that the light seemed to be “pacing their vehicle.” Upon reaching the launch facility, they observed that the object had moved south of their position. Realizing the significance of the situation, the dispatcher connected O’Connor and Isley’s communication with Radar Approach Control (RAPCON), which recorded multiple reports from Minot Air Force Base personnel as dawn approached.
The Launch Control Facilities (LCF) on the base soon began reporting their own sightings of the strange glowing object overhead. Reports varied, with one officer describing an object that “looked like the sun,” which hovered briefly near security fencing before speeding away. He sent two team members to follow it, who tracked it for about half a mile before it landed in a clearing. As it descended, the light dimmed until it vanished completely.
An even stranger account described the object splitting into two parts, which then moved in opposite directions before rejoining and crossing each other. Other reports detailed a “large, brightly illuminated object” that would “accelerate and change direction rapidly,” with colors shifting from “brilliant white to amber and green.”
Despite the varying details, the consistent descriptions of the orange glow and the round or saucer-shaped craft underscore the reality of the events on October 24th, 1968. In addition to the ground sightings and radar detections, a returning B-52 aircraft also encountered one of the objects at close range.
Shortly after 3 am, the B-52 was returning to the base after a 10-hour high-altitude training exercise when the crew received orders from RAPCON ground control. The message was clear and direct:
"...look toward your 1:00 position for the next 15 or 16 miles and see if you notice any orange glows. Someone's spotting flying saucers again!"
Initially, the B-52 crew saw nothing unusual. However, by the time they were making their final approach to the runway around 3:50 am, they received updated information from RAPCON ground control. This report indicated that the object was now visible on their radar and should be observable in their 1:00 position within the next 3 miles. As this information came through, the B-52’s radar also detected the anomaly. Within three seconds, the object appeared to cover a distance of two miles, raising concerns about a potential mid-air collision. Navigator Captain Patrick McCaslin recalled:
"I knew whatever it was, it was something I’d never seen on radar. Nothing could move laterally two miles in three seconds and then just stop. It matched our descent rate perfectly and maintained a one-mile distance... like perfect formation!"
As the B-52 descended with the UFO maintaining a one-mile distance to its left, the UHF radio transmissions to RAPCON went dead for about 20 miles. Just before the object vanished and communications were restored, the plane's radarscope camera captured several seconds of footage showing the object "spiraling around."
Once the object disappeared and communications resumed, the crew, still unsettled, chose not to land immediately. Instead, they executed a missed landing procedure and took to the air again to circle the base before attempting another landing. Before they could do so, a high-ranking officer (a General at the base) ordered them to abandon the landing and search for the object. RAPCON had detected an unusual stationary object approximately 16 miles north-northwest of Minot Air Force Base, and it appeared to be on the ground.
The plane altered its course to investigate the radar anomaly. From 10 miles away, the pilots spotted a large “illuminated object” ahead. Major James Partin described it as resembling a “miniature sun” on the ground. As the plane flew directly overhead of the glowing craft, it turned around, inadvertently using the object's circular edge to guide the plane back 180 degrees. Co-pilot Captain Bradford Runyon noted that the craft’s exterior looked like “molten steel” due to its strange “dull reddish” glow.
The crew estimated the object to be about 100 feet wide, 200 feet long, and approximately 50 feet high. They also observed a tube-like structure extending from one side, which resembled a car bumper. The rear of this “bumper” emitted a peculiar green-yellow glow that illuminated the connecting tube. As the B-52 passed directly over the craft at an altitude of around 1500 feet, the communication systems went dead once again, just as they had when the object initially approached during the descent.
The B-52 continued its course toward Minot Air Force Base, leaving the stationary object behind. The aircraft landed at the base at 4:40 am, nearly two hours later than scheduled. Nine minutes later, at 4:49 am, the alarm systems at Launch Facility Oscar-7—both outer and inner-zone systems—triggered an alert for a boundary breach. A Security Alert Team was dispatched to investigate immediately. Upon arrival, they found that the main gate was unlocked and the side access gate was open. The team searched the interior and exterior of the facility but found no intruders, whether human or otherwise.
Meanwhile, reports of the glowing object over the N-7 facility continued. By 5:30 am, the object seemed to have "diminished" and was no longer visible. It is noteworthy that the object appeared to fade gradually rather than disappear suddenly, as if it had lost power.
In the immediate aftermath and with the benefit of hindsight, it became clear that neither the military nor its UFO investigatory branch, Project Blue Book, had any intention of thoroughly investigating the events of October 24th, 1968. There was even less interest in providing a genuine explanation to the public.
For instance, although six ground staff members were asked to complete the standard AF-117 form (Air Force Form 117 Sighting of Unidentified Phenomena Questionnaire), no attempt was made to interview any of the B-52 pilots. The efforts of private UFO investigators were the only means by which the pilots’ accounts were shared with the public.
Furthermore, in the context of the Vietnam War and the Cold War, military officers and personnel displayed an unquestioning attitude. Despite knowing that the official narrative was lacking, many believed the military would eventually disclose its findings. However, most of these findings were neither finalized nor made public. This lack of transparency led many officers, including Captain Bradford Runyon, to seek out UFO investigators. Runyon, among others, felt compelled to share his experiences after the official channels failed to provide answers.
In 1998, 30 years after the incident, Runyon contacted the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) in Chicago to report what he knew and to fill in the gaps in his understanding of the event.
While there is some debate among UFO researchers and enthusiasts regarding the authenticity of the incident, reports suggest that a similar event occurred at Minot Air Force Base two years earlier, in the fall of 1966.
The account comes from Captain David Schindele, a former U.S. military member who has since become a whistleblower. In his recent book It Never Happened, Volume 1, Schindele asserts that the nuclear facilities at the base were effectively “shut down” due to interference from UFOs or the entities behind them. According to Schindele, this shutdown meant that the nuclear weapons could not be launched, leaving the base defenseless if the UFOs were hostile. At the time, local and state newspapers did report UFO sightings, including a prominent front-page story in the December 6th, 1966, edition of the Minot Daily News, which suggested that Minot Air Force Base was a hotspot for such sightings.
Whether Schindele’s use of the newspaper article is opportunistic or not is open to interpretation. He claims that following the article’s publication, the US Air Force issued a directive to suppress such coverage. Though this might sound far-fetched and challenging to enforce, it is not an unprecedented claim. Schindele discussed his experiences in 2010 before publishing his book and alleged that orders to “remain silent” about various incidents were common for those stationed at Minot Air Force Base. Many personnel reported experiencing “otherworldly incidents” while on duty there, particularly at the surrounding facilities. The trend of whistleblowers coming forward, sometimes from different air force bases, has led to more individuals sharing their own experiences. Schindele reflects:
"We didn’t realize at the time that others were having similar experiences. But now, the truth is coming out!"
As more former servicemen reveal their stories and military and government files are declassified, interest in uncovering “the truth” is growing. However, many ex-servicemen choose to remain silent about these incidents. Does this support Schindele’s claims of recurring phenomena at the North Dakota military base, or does it cast doubt on them?
In early 2017, a video surfaced online featuring a missile security guard who claimed to have seen a “huge, blinding UFO” near Minot Air Force Base during the summer of 1972. He recounted how he and another guard observed the bright object before witnessing jets being scrambled from the base and the base going on full alert.
Just when the two guards thought things had calmed down, they saw a formation of bright objects appear overhead, flying over the launch facilities and showing particular interest in that part of the base. Even more alarming, the security guard alleged that the United States Air Force subjected him to hypnosis to prevent him from discussing the incident. Additionally, he signed confidentiality agreements to ensure he would not speak about the events.
Adding to the intrigue, there are claims that base personnel were regularly involved in “UFO retrieval operations.”
Ultimately, the events of October 1968 remain among the most compelling UFO encounters over Minot Air Force Base, assuming no additional details are yet uncovered. The key questions are why these glowing, saucer-shaped crafts appeared and lingered over the base for several hours. Equally intriguing is the significance of the landing witnessed by the B-52 crew. Was this related to the reported disarmament of nuclear weapons?
Furthermore, consider the claims made by the security guard about regular UFO retrieval operations from Minot Air Force Base. Could the base still house recovered alien technology? This raises the possibility that persistent UFO activity in North Dakota might be linked to such technology. With this in mind, how many of the recent sightings could be attributed to extraterrestrial visitors, and how many might be related to classified projects conducted by secretive US government agencies?
Given that UFO sightings in the region continue today, does Minot Air Force Base warrant more attention from UFO researchers? Could it be that a location known for housing alien technology—whether recovered from crashes or otherwise—has been hidden in plain sight, while attention is focused on bases further south and west?
Just over half a decade later, another unsettling incident occurred. Indeed, the bizarre events that unfolded at McChord Air Force Base in Washington, just south of Tacoma, in October 1972 might seem unbelievable even to the most dedicated UFO and alien enthusiasts—if they hadn’t come directly from the files of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI).
In the early afternoon of October 14th, 1972, around 1 pm, Airman First Class Steven Briggs and Airman Dennis Hillsgeck were en route from McChord Air Force Base in Pierce County, Washington, to the Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) facility. The facility was located about eight miles from the base but remained under the control of the United States government and, by extension, the U.S. Air Force, which was responsible for its operation.
The journey to the facility was brief. Upon arrival, they unlocked the secured gate and entered the area, heading straight to the TACAN building. After performing all necessary security checks, they began their scheduled systems checks of the TACAN facility. Everything was proceeding smoothly until around 2 pm, when Briggs heard a high-pitched sound coming from outside. He later described it as resembling the sound of a small plane engine. However, when he stepped outside, he quickly realized he wasn’t seeing a small plane or any other conventional aircraft.
In plain view, hovering above the TACAN building, was a “saucer-shaped object.” As he continued to watch, the object began to descend and landed just south of the main compound. Briggs immediately rushed back inside to alert Hillsgeck. After regaining his composure inside, Briggs and Hillsgeck were alarmed to see "two creatures" approaching the fence that surrounded the entire complex. Briggs quickly returned inside the base, this time to alert base security and request backup. Sergeant David Holmes was on duty at the switchboard that afternoon and listened as Briggs urgently reported that "intruders" were attempting to enter the base.
A two-man unit was dispatched to the facility, with Sergeant Dwight Reid and Airman First Class Michael Tash arriving 17 minutes later. The scene around the compound was one of confusion and concern. They found Briggs and Hillsgeck standing by their vehicle, seemingly "in a daze." Neither man could speak when asked what had happened, and Reid noticed burn marks on their faces, which raised further concern.
Reid examined the men and requested a USAF ambulance, while Tash began inspecting the surrounding area. He discovered strange markings in the soil, which was soft from the fall weather. Suddenly, Reid’s voice called out, telling Tash to look up. When he did, he saw a saucer-shaped object, likely the same one that Briggs and Hillsgeck had witnessed. Reid attempted to communicate with the security police, but his portable radio was completely dead.
Realizing the danger they were in, Reid ordered Tash to help get the two dazed men into their vehicle. They then drove away from the scene with great urgency. About a mile from the base, Reid's radio suddenly came back to life. He immediately requested additional security police to respond to the scene. One of the officers who arrived was Sergeant Darren Alexander, accompanied by his military dog, Champ. They headed toward the TACAN compound to search. However, when they were about 400 yards from the base, Champ began barking loudly.
Looking up, Alexander saw “two creatures” near one of the remote power stations around the complex. Unsure if they would understand, Alexander called out for the figures to freeze and “raise their hands.” Instead of complying, the figures began walking toward him. Noticing a strange device in one of the creature’s hands and fearing it might be a weapon, Alexander fired six shots from his revolver. He couldn’t tell if he had hit either of them. He then returned to his vehicle to radio a report of the shots fired and to request additional backup.
Within minutes, Security Alert Teams arrived at the base and began a thorough search of the grounds. During the operation, they suddenly spotted the saucer on the ground. Approaching the craft cautiously, they circled it slowly before reporting to their supervisor and awaiting further instructions.
A few moments later, Captain Henry Stone arrived at the base, where the saucer-shaped object still rested on the ground, surrounded by his men at a safe distance. As Stone took a step closer to the object, it suddenly lifted off and vanished from sight.
Shortly afterward, officials from the special investigations department arrived at the compound near McChord Air Force Base. They collected molds, took photographs, and retrieved the shells from Alexander’s revolver. They also took full statements from everyone involved. Following their investigation, they classified the incident as "Top Secret," leaving it officially unsolved and not to be discussed or acknowledged.
As mentioned earlier, there are those who doubt Collins’ account of the events. Despite his connections to other whistleblowers, such as Richard Doty, skepticism remains. However, some seemingly minor details in the case lend credibility to it. For instance, the radios mentioned in the report were identified as HT 220 models, which were indeed produced just before the incident in 1969, making them likely to have been used by the US military. Moreover, the revolver used by Sergeant Alexander, an SW Model 15 .38 Revolver, is consistent with the type of weapon issued by the US military at the time.
What should we make of the alleged encounter with alien creatures near McChord Air Force Base? While some remain skeptical, many details of the account resonate with other reports, particularly the apparent keen interest these beings—whatever or whoever they may be—seem to have in military installations across the United States and around the world.
Collins has also appeared on the well-known and widely respected show Coast to Coast, where he is described as having served in fields such as avionics, ground communication, engineering physics, and intelligence.
Additionally, this account became something of a "legend" among those stationed at McChord Air Force Base, even as far back as the late 1980s and early 1990s—long before Collins went public with his story in the early 2000s. Many legends, including modern urban legends, often have some basis in truth. Could this be the case with the supposed battle near McChord Air Force Base?
On one hand, the story aligns with numerous other accounts. Given the U.S. government's history of being less than transparent about such matters, this adds some weight to the tale. On the other hand, the lack of concrete evidence understandably leads many to question its authenticity.
However, if we consider the conspiracy theories surrounding UFOs and aliens, this doubt might be exactly what shadowy government agencies intend—keeping the public uncertain about the reality of such encounters and the circumstances surrounding UFO sightings.
Only three years later, in late October 1975, an incident over Loring Air Force Base in Maine raised compelling questions about the nature of UFOs and their apparent interest in military installations—particularly those believed to house nuclear weapons.
Notably, information about the incident was relayed in real-time to the National Military Command Center in Washington, D.C. In addition to multiple visual sightings, the objects were detected on military radar over consecutive nights. Despite these events, the entire incident was officially dismissed as a "training drill." Unsurprisingly, many of the witnesses and investigators were reluctant to accept this explanation.
The incidents began shortly before 8 pm on October 27th, 1975, at Loring Air Force Base in Maine, when a strange, glowing object was observed hovering over the base, specifically above the area where weapons were stored. Reports suggest that these weapons were concealed under fake, camouflaged huts. If the object intentionally hovered over the alleged weapons area, its awareness of their location is intriguing.
That evening, Staff Sergeant Danny Lewis was on watch duty, with the weapons area being his primary focus. When the unusual object appeared, he was the first to notice it, later estimating its altitude at around 300 feet. The object had a red navigation light on its underside, along with a white strobe-type light. Meanwhile, in the control tower, Duty Sergeant James Sampley detected the aerial anomaly on the base’s radar system. Initially, he estimated the object to be about 10 miles away, but as he observed it, the object moved in a circular route around the base before approaching the weapons storage area within mere feet.
Realizing the potential security threat and uncertain about the nature of the object, Sampley began notifying his supervisors of the situation.
As Lewis watched, the object entered the confines of the base, prompting an immediate security alert. In the control tower, Sergeant Grover Eggleston closely monitored the situation, tracking the mysterious object on one of the radar screens.
A command was issued for a manual ground search of the base, and requests were sent to all nearby military and civilian airports for any information they might have on the intruding object over Loring Air Force Base. The object hovered over the base for about 40 minutes, occasionally circling overhead before returning to its position above the weapons storage area. Eventually, it moved toward New Brunswick, disappearing from radar screens about 12 miles away.
Despite this, the base remained on high alert throughout the night and into the next day. Remarkably, the object returned the following night at nearly the same time.
Once again, just like the previous night, the craft—or one identical to it—returned at precisely 7:45 pm. Danny Lewis was on duty and once more witnessed the strange craft hovering over the base, zeroing in on the area housing the nuclear weapons. As it approached, those on duty and others watching could clearly see flashes of "orange, red, and white" from the underside of the craft.
Lewis immediately reported the encounter. Given the unusual events of the previous evening, the Wing Commander himself arrived at the nuclear weapons area and observed the strange object hovering overhead. As before, the base’s radar systems also detected the object. Several other witnesses on the base, including Sergeant Steven Eickner, reported seeing an "orange and red object, shaped like a stretched-out football." They watched in amazement as it hovered midair before its brilliant lights suddenly dimmed. The next moment, the craft was hovering only 150 feet above the runway.
Those who witnessed this bizarre event estimated the object to be at least 80 feet long. Notably, the craft appeared to have no doors or windows, as if it were made from a single piece of metallic-like material. Perhaps most intriguing was the apparent lack of a visible propulsion system, challenging our conventional understanding of flight. This aspect is often cited as a key reason for the secrecy surrounding UFOs.
The entire base was immediately placed on alert and remained so for the rest of the evening after the object moved off, once again heading toward New Brunswick as it had the previous night. Similar to the previous evening, reports were sent directly to superiors through the established chains of command. The next day, reinforcements arrived, primarily in the form of National Guard helicopters. Notably, and as we’ll discuss with Michael Wallace shortly, the Canadian government and military were granted permission to cross the Canadian-American border if necessary, provided a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer accompanied them. To observers, including the local press caught up in a UFO and alien abduction frenzy reminiscent of the 1970s, it seemed the military was taking these incidents very seriously.
On the evening of October 29th, another sighting occurred, leading to an RCMP officer accompanying a helicopter across the border to try to locate the aerial visitor. Despite yet another radar confirmation, the search proved unsuccessful.
The following evening saw yet another incident, confirmed both on radar and visually from the ground. However, security teams based at or near Loring Air Force Base once again failed to locate or intercept the mysterious craft. The strange and unsettling sightings continued sporadically for several weeks, tapering off as the year drew to a close.
In 2013, Michael Wallace, a former KC-135 military pilot, claimed to have direct knowledge of a UFO incident over Loring Air Force Base in 1975. This event reportedly occurred in the days following the sightings at the base.
Wallace recounted that he was returning to the base after an air-to-air refueling mission. Just days prior, all flight crews from his unit, the 42nd Bomb Wing, were summoned to an urgent meeting. At the start of the meeting, a uniformed Major informed the group that anyone without at least secret clearance had to leave. While a few personnel departed, the majority remained. The Major then revealed that a UFO had been reported over the base, specifically positioned above the "nuclear-armed B-52s" stationed near the "nuclear weapons storage facilities."
The Major provided additional details about the sighting:
“It’s hovering silently and has a few lights. It can move extremely quickly, with unconventional, rapid straight-line and vertical movements… so it’s pretty incredible technology!”
He further noted that base personnel were "pretty concerned" about the incident and that the information was not to be discussed publicly or with anyone lacking the appropriate clearance. If any pilots observed similar strange objects, they were to report them to those in command "inside this room," but otherwise, the incident should not be mentioned or acknowledged.
What Wallace revealed next is particularly noteworthy.
The Major expressed concern that the local press might become suspicious. Given the presence of civilians and the increased number of personnel and ground staff at the base, their interest in the situation would likely grow. To address these potential concerns, a cover story had already been prepared: a helicopter was supposedly coming across the Canadian border and "harassing us." This would be the official narrative for anyone outside the room. With this peculiar emergency meeting still fresh in their minds, Wallace and several other tanker planes carried out their nighttime refueling missions. Alongside Wallace's aircraft were two other KC-135s flying in formation, returning to Loring Air Force Base.
The mission had been routine until communication from the base instructed the lead plane’s commander, or cell leader, to switch to a specific frequency for an important briefing. Since this frequency was not part of the standard channels, only the cell leader would hear it. However, spurred by curiosity from the unusual meeting days earlier, Wallace remembered he had a spare radio with him. Ignoring his professional military training, he told his fellow pilots, "Let’s see what this guy is going to get briefed on!" and tuned his radio to the frequency the cell leader was instructed to use.
Before long, Wallace and his crew were covertly listening in on the cell leader’s private briefing. Wallace later speculated that the pilot of the third plane was likely doing the same. What they overheard was quite alarming. The command at Loring communicated over the secure frequency:
"Listen, the UFO is over the base again right now. We need you to transfer leadership of the formation to the number two aircraft. Then, turn off your lights and radios and proceed to the base at your own discretion!"
The cell leader responded with, "Will do." Wallace later described such a secretive command as "unusual, very unusual." Almost immediately after receiving the orders, the cell leader contacted Wallace to inform him of "special orders" to "depart the formation," appointing Wallace as the new cell leader. He added that Wallace should "let the navigators coordinate your positions when you're ready."
As Wallace prepared to lead the remaining aircraft, he observed the original lead plane turn off its lights and go radio silent. Moments later, he saw the darkened plane heading towards the base. Meanwhile, Wallace was making adjustments for his own approach to Loring Air Force Base. During this time, the communications radio crackled to life with control tower chatter that both intrigued and unsettled him.
Wallace later noted that he had listened to numerous "combat discussions" between pilots and control towers and was familiar with the stress these conversations often displayed. The discussions he overheard while preparing to lead his fellow tanker plane back to base were not exactly panicked but were close to frantic.
He recalled hearing phrases like “Did you see it?” and “Where is it now?” Even more unsettling were the mentions of the object being “back over the alert bombers!” This intense exchange continued for several minutes as Wallace awaited landing instructions. Wallace also observed an unusually high volume of voices and chatter over the airwaves, which he inferred were coming from the control tower.
Eventually, the anomalous object seemed to disappear, with chatter such as “We lost it” indicating that the object had “fallen off the radar” within seconds. Wallace found this sudden disappearance “remarkable in itself.” Following his instructions, Wallace then guided the planes to runway 36 to land.
Wallace safely landed his plane, followed shortly by the third plane. The crews then proceeded to the debriefing room, awaiting further instructions. Given the late hour, the base was relatively quiet, but the pilots were eager to discuss their experiences and find someone who might explain what had occurred while they were in the air.
They also noticed that the crew from the original third plane was nowhere to be found. Wallace speculated that the pilot and crew might be talking to the Major, who had briefed them a few days earlier. He hoped that locating them might shed more light on the events.
It wasn’t until several days later that Wallace finally saw the pilot of the first plane. He approached him to inquire about the events of the night. Instead of providing any details, the pilot simply responded:
"I can’t talk about it! You wouldn’t believe me if I did!"
With that, the pilot turned and walked away, and Wallace didn’t hear anything further about the incident. It appeared that the object over Loring Air Force Base in late October 1975 may have continued to linger over the base for several weeks thereafter. Wallace would later remark that he had “never experienced anything as incredible as that.
Interestingly, just after 10 pm on October 30th, on-duty personnel at Wurtsmith Air Force Base reported observing a peculiar object hovering over the base. The object exhibited unusual movement patterns. Initially, it seemed to the witnesses that the object might be a helicopter. However, Airman Martin Tackabury noted seeing a strange white light shining directly downward.
What made the object even more peculiar was its complete silence. Tackabury was uncertain whether this was because the noise of a large tanker plane in the vicinity was masking it. When he looked up again, the strange object appeared to be flying in front of and below the tanker plane. Upon closer inspection, it seemed to move in a way that was not typical of a helicopter.
The situation became even more unsettling for the security personnel stationed at the back gate of the base, where the weapons were stored. They saw the “strange helicopter without lights” suddenly appear over the storage facility. As the object drew closer, it became increasingly clear that it did not resemble a conventional helicopter, leaving the security personnel uncertain about the nature of the craft.
Meanwhile, the base’s control tower suddenly picked up the object on the radar screen.
Sometime after 10:30 p.m., a tanker plane returning from a refueling mission received new coordinates to investigate an anomalous aircraft. Following the control tower's instructions, the crew soon spotted the strange craft. Navigator Captain Myron Taylor described seeing something resembling “strobe lights flashing irregularly.”
The plane tracked the object as it flew over Lake Huron. Unexpectedly, the object changed direction and headed south. The plane followed it toward Saginaw Bay but eventually lost sight of it. They searched the area for several minutes but were unable to relocate the craft. They then returned to Wurtsmith Air Force Base. Strangely, on their way back, the object reappeared and seemed to be following the tanker plane.
When the crew turned the plane around to pursue the object, it abruptly “took off” and disappeared in the opposite direction. The incident remains unexplained and intriguing, sharing similarities with the encounters over Loring Air Force Base.
The sightings over Loring Air Force Base are shrouded in deep mystery and speculation, likely due to the involvement of nuclear weapons and the apparent focus of UFOs on these sites Although this case may not hold the same level of prominence as other high-profile incidents, it fits well into the broader UFO narrative in terms of timing, location, and the specifics of the events.
Was there a cover-up surrounding these incidents, and is there still undisclosed information about them and other similar cases? Could these alleged cover-ups be genuine, albeit misguided, efforts to protect the public from potential threats to the United States or even the world? Or are the motivations behind these actions more self-serving and insidious?
As with nearly all UFO cases, especially those involving military forces, there are numerous fragments of potential explanations to consider. These fragments are not only constantly evolving but also interact with other similar incidents, which themselves are in a state of perpetual change, all within the broader context of global events.
The following year, over a two-night period in January 1976, a student journalist known as "Bruce" observed several mysterious objects over Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. On the first night, he was alone, while on the second, multiple witnesses were present. During this time, military jets were scrambled to engage in a "cat and mouse" chase with these unusual and apparently "trespassing" crafts.
Following the public disclosure of these incidents, Bruce received alarming warnings from both enigmatic phone callers and concerned neighbors who reported strange occurrences around his home in his absence. This case, like several others, has resurfaced in UFO research due to the Internet, and it might offer another crucial piece of the puzzle in our quest for answers. What exactly transpired during those January nights in 1976, and why did these events continue to trouble the United States government for decades?
Late in the evening of January 21st, 1976, Bruce was sitting in his truck on the outskirts of Clovis, New Mexico, near the KMTY FM 99.1 radio station transmitter. He worked part-time at the station to help fund his college education and pursue a journalism career. Although he wasn't scheduled to work that night, Bruce was called in at the last minute for transmitter tests. The station needed someone on-site, and with his financial need, Bruce agreed to the extra shift. It turned out to be a night he would never forget. As a journalist, Bruce was fortuitously positioned to witness what was about to unfold. While sitting in his truck and observing the scattered lights below, including those of Cannon Air Force Base, he noticed three unusual lights in the sky. They appeared to him like "lightbulbs on a string."
Suddenly, two of the lights dropped swiftly towards the ground, stopping just short of a collision and hovering in place. The third light remained stationary above them. As part of his "storm spotter" duties, Bruce always carried a storm spotter kit, which included binoculars. He grabbed them and focused on the two lower lights as he continued to observe their strange behavior.
Astounded by what he was witnessing, Bruce observed as many details as he could. Through the binoculars, the lights revealed a "classic saucer shape" with a "bluish glow" around them, while the underside emitted a "red radiant glow" downward. Each craft also had a distinct "dome shape" on top.
He kept his binoculars focused on the two crafts as they began to move, slowly and in perfect parallel alignment. He tracked their movement for about 15 minutes as they glided calmly over the unsuspecting people below. One of the most unusual observations he later reported was that the lights of the buildings and streets seemed to "dim significantly" as the crafts passed overhead, aligning with other reports of electrical surges linked to UFO sightings.
After contacting his employers at the station to report what he had seen, Bruce discovered that many residents, including several active state police officers, had also witnessed the strange crafts that evening. Although Bruce had not brought his camera with him as he was working that night, he returned the following evening with several members of the newsroom, where he was gaining experience. Leveraging connections on his college campus, Bruce secured keys to the roof of a dormitory. With access granted, he and a group of fellow journalists and photographers prepared to capture another sighting, hopeful for a repeat of the previous encounter. They were not disappointed.
Just before 1 am, four glowing objects reappeared in the night sky over Clovis. Determined not to miss this opportunity, Bruce successfully captured a clear photograph of the objects. Unlike their earlier appearance, the lights were now darting around rather than simply hovering. As the group on the dormitory roof watched the mesmerizing display, they heard a roar and saw several F-111 military jets launch from Cannon Air Force Base. The jets, clearly tasked with intercepting the crafts, flew directly toward the glowing objects. However, each time a jet approached, the crafts would evade rapidly, maneuvering with astonishing speed and agility. The jets, by contrast, appeared cumbersome and were unable to keep pace with the advanced objects. During the crafts' swift, precise maneuvers, a peculiar "plasma-type glow" briefly illuminated the sky. From their vantage point atop the tallest building on campus, the group observed the F-111 jets' frantic attempts with an unobstructed view.
Around 45 minutes later, at approximately 1:30 am, the events came to a sudden end. After leading the jets on an extensive chase across the night sky, the objects abruptly "shot up and vanished in an instant." The jets returned to base, their pilots likely experiencing a mix of confusion and frustration.
One witness, equipped with a powerful telescope, observed the base, particularly the runway flight line. He reported that as the objects descended near the runway, all the lights went out, reminiscent of how Bruce had noted the town lights dimming the previous evening as the crafts passed overhead. Interestingly, Bruce’s contacts at Cannon Air Force Base—who knew him from his work as a disc jockey taking music requests—revealed that the base experienced a complete power outage during part of the incident.
Additionally, according to these contacts, the base personnel, including high-ranking officers, were in a state of panic due to the unexpected appearance of the objects. The scramble of jets and the overall reaction suggested that the military at Cannon Air Force Base had no insight into the crafts' origins or intentions.
The contact also shared further details with Bruce, under the condition of anonymity. They disclosed that a new, bright lighting system was installed at the base shortly after the incident, and intriguingly, the base had quietly recorded radar activity on both nights in question.
While the US military never acknowledged any radar recordings or unusual activities, Freedom of Information Act requests eventually disclosed that F-111 jets were indeed scrambled from Cannon Air Force Base on the evening of January 22nd (into the early hours of January 23rd, 1976). The reasons for this scramble, however, remain unclear.
The situation took a dramatic turn nearly 30 years later when Bruce decided to publicly share his account. On July 16th, 2004, he appeared on the Jeff Rense Radio Show, revealing the photograph he had taken during the second night’s sighting. Four days later, at 1:30 am, he received a call from an unknown person on his private, unlisted cell phone—a number known to only a few people.
Initially, Bruce thought the call might be from one of his adult children with an urgent message. However, upon answering, he was greeted by an unfamiliar voice asking to confirm his identity. The caller claimed to urgently discuss the photographs Bruce had from the Cannon Air Force incident. Bruce initially dismissed the call as a prank, but the caller insisted:
“It would be in your best interest to discontinue this line of discussion and destroy those photographs!”
When Bruce checked the caller ID, it displayed “Number Not Available.” Before he could respond, the caller issued another warning:
“This is no joke! For the sake of your family, you need to let this go!”
Bruce tried to stay composed and asked for the caller’s identity. The response was unsettling: the caller detailed the careers and daily routines of Bruce’s children and wife, even claiming he could "fax him his entire history in seconds."
Feeling threatened, Bruce abruptly ended the call. For weeks, there was silence, and Bruce nearly pushed the incident out of his mind. However, a neighbor later informed him of unusual activity around his property. Strange cars with US government plates would park outside his home, with unfamiliar men occasionally emerging to snoop around. The neighbor's warning about these suspicious vehicles with government plates further heightened Bruce’s concern.
In the summer of 2006, reports emerged about UFO researcher Brian Vike, who had extensively investigated Bruce’s sightings and communicated with him at length. Vike claimed to possess the aforementioned photograph and intended to publish it, along with other regional images, on his website.
However, these photographs appear to be unavailable online, whether on Vike's website or elsewhere where his interviews have been featured. Despite this, it is known that Vike did capture at least one photograph clearly, albeit grainy. This raises the question: was there an effort to suppress these images? Notably, Vike withdrew from public life shortly after reports surfaced about his possession of the photographs due to health issues.
Nevertheless, Vike's investigations did lead to more detailed information becoming public. For instance, a journalist from the Clovis News Journal reported seeing "23 UFOs maneuvering in and out of complex formations" the night after the second sighting. Additionally, in the days following the incident, a strange circle was found "burned into the ground" on a New Mexico ranch, along with the recovery of a "cylindrical object of unknown origin" from the ranch's grounds.
Furthermore, another report surfaced about six months after the Cannon Air Force Base incident, adding to the growing body of information surrounding these events.
Although its authenticity cannot be verified, an anonymous witness reported to Vike that while serving as a Security Police officer at Cannon Air Force Base in July 1976, he observed similar hovering lights during a patrol.
The witness and a colleague stopped their vehicle by the roadside on the base and closely observed the objects. They described the crafts as having a blue glow on top that transitioned to white in the middle, with a green light on the underside. They checked with the control tower to confirm if any base aircraft were in the area, but none were reported. When Clovis Police contacted the base to report sightings of the same objects and inquire about possible aircraft activity, the two security guards were convinced of the objects' reality.
Two additional patrol cars arrived, with one attempting to approach the hovering craft. However, as it got closer, the object vanished. The witness remarked:
“It did not fly away! It just disappeared!”
This detail is intriguing, as many UFO reports describe objects vanishing abruptly, akin to “switching off a lightbulb,” rather than flying away.
The following night, the witness experienced an even stranger event. Around 2 am, he was awakened by a commotion in the barracks. Upon going outside, he saw 12 glowing crafts arranged in a “perfect circle” directly above the base. He reported to Vike:
“Each one was the exact same distance from the other, so I knew that this could not be by accident!”
With nearly the entire base witnessing the phenomenon, the lights extinguished one by one, as if “someone had turned off the power.”
The next evening, unable to sleep after two nights of extraordinary sightings, the witness walked around the barracks and observed the 12 lights reappearing in their circular formation. He ran to alert a superior but found that squads were already watching the skies and setting up cameras. Once again, the lights turned off one by one.
After that night, the lights did not reappear, and the location of any film footage, if it exists, remains unknown.
As we can see, then, many UFO encounters have unfolded over or near military air force facilities – and these are just a small number of those on record. Moreover, there appears to be a variety of potential reasons for these encounters.
Many military air force bases are located near nuclear facilities or storage sites for nuclear weapons. Given the destructive potential of nuclear weapons, it’s understandable why UFOs sighted near these locations could attract attention. If UFOs are indeed alien spacecraft, their interest in such sites might suggest a focus on monitoring or evaluating nuclear capabilities. The presence of nuclear weapons makes these bases strategic assets. A foreign power, whether human or non-human, might be interested in assessing the readiness, deployment, and security of these weapons. UFO researchers have made connections between nuclear weapons and the buildings that house them and these strange otherworldly objects.
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The 10 Most Legitimate Cases of U.F.O. Sightings
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