Minot AFB B-52 radar case

Case

Overview

Missile-field maintenance and security personnel reported a light; a B-52 crew tracked an object on radar that paced the aircraft, and radarscope film was recorded. Blue Book closed the case 1968-11-13.

Investigative phases

SAC debriefings; Blue Book report (Quintanilla); later independent investigations

Reported phenomena

Bright object near missile sites; radar target pacing B-52

Public evidence status

Blue Book file and radarscope photos public

Alternative explanations / caveats

Plasma or ball lightning (Blue Book); radar anomalies

Next research tasks

Locate SAC debriefing records not provided to Blue Book

Last reviewed

2026-11-11

Assessment

Event date

1968-10-24

Source category

Blue Book file; radarscope photos

Original data accessibility

Partial

Witness / instrument basis

Radar film; aircrew; ground personnel

Corroboration limitations

SAC records not reviewed

Extraordinary claim assessment

Unexplained radar-visual

Current status

Open / disputed

Priority research task

Locate SAC debriefings

Lead source ID

SRC-V86-34

Last reviewed

2026-11-11

Evidence (1)

• B-52 radarscope photographs and Blue Book final report (1968-11-13) Disputed
  CE-V86-19 · 1968-10-24 · Blue Book file / radar photos
  Gaps: SAC debriefings not given to Blue Book

Documents gathered (1 line of evidence)

1 readable here · 0 with a linked primary record · 0 still need a document · All cases on the evidence map

• B-52 radarscope photographs and Blue Book final report (1968-11-13) Readable here
  CE-V86-19 · The investigation of UFO events at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota; Project Blue Book case file: Minot AFB, North Dakota, 24 October 1968 (B-52 radar and ground sightings) (read here)