Gorman Dogfight — North Dakota National Guard Pilot Chases Glowing Orb for 27 Minutes

On October 1, 1948, Lieutenant George F. Gorman of the North Dakota Air National Guard engaged in a 27-minute aerial pursuit of a small, brilliantly lit, rapidly maneuvering object over Fargo, North Dakota. The encounter occurred after Gorman's F-51 Mustang was the last aircraft to land at Hector Airport and he spotted a light that he initially assumed was the tail light of another aircraft. When Gorman radioed the airport tower, the tower confirmed only one other aircraft in the area — a Piper Cub whose pilot also witnessed the object. Gorman gave chase and found the light could outdistend him at speeds well beyond his aircraft's capability. The object appeared able to turn with a tightness impossible for a conventional aircraft and twice made direct head-on passes at Gorman's Mustang, causing him to dive away to avoid collision. The object demonstrated awareness of Gorman's pursuit and appeared to respond to his maneuvers. After 27 minutes, the light climbed away at high speed and disappeared. Gorman landed shaken and submitted a detailed report to the Air Force. The tower operator, a Civil Aeronautics Administration employee, and the Piper Cub pilot all corroborated the sighting. Project Sign investigated the case. The official explanation eventually settled on was a weather balloon, but this was disputed given the extraordinary maneuvers described by the pilot and the corroborating witnesses. Gorman had extensive combat experience from World War II and was considered a highly reliable witness.