Ground Observer’s View: 3:00 at November-7

A1C Robert O’Connor, and A1C Lloyd Isley
November-7 LF at 3:00 am, 24 Oct. 1968

N 48° 37’ 20.88” / W 101° 36’ 8.83”

Minot AFB Case/Reference Map

Map created with Stellarium

A1C Robert Michael O’CONNOR, (Field Maintenance Chief, 91st MIMS).

In response to the question in O’Connor’s AF-117 of whether the phenomenon was in sight continuously he observed the phenomenon in open countryside and it was not in sight continuously. “Object moved SE first then west, then SE and out of sight. Then a few minutes later appeared in the SE again moving N. At one time the object came within about 1/2 mile of site. Then was headed SW then went east and out of sight. Then reappeared in the SE moved W then east then out of sight.” His impression of the distance to the phenomenon was “1/2 to 6 miles.” He heard a noise: “The noise I heard was similar to that of a jet engine only more steady and at a lower pitch,” and describes the phenomenon: “The object appeared self-luminous, like a big ball of white light that seemed to change to a dim green light then later to a dim amber color.” Regarding the shape of the object: “I was unable to make out any definite shape because the object put out such a bright light.”

He noted that the angular size of the object appeared bigger than a match head at arm’s length, which would be larger than 23 arc minutes. [The moon subtends an angle of 31 arc minutes].

A1C Lloyd M. ISLEY, (Maintenance Technician, 91st MIMS).

According to Isley’s AF-117, “We arrived at the site and then started observing the object from outside the truck. It was moving in a large circular area to the south of us. It came within hearing distance twice. The sound was that of jet engines.” He includes a drawing of the object moving in a large CCW oval pattern south of N-7. He provides two separate drawings of the object moving in a large CCW oval pattern south of N-7. The first indicates the first and last positions of observation and subtends an angle of 100°. The second drawing (from an overhead perspective) indicates the east-west movement subtending an angle of 90°. His impression of the speed of the object was “slow,” and estimate of the distance to the phenomenon was “2 miles.” He indicates the initial observation was at 50° altitude.

In response to the question of whether the phenomenon was in sight continuously, he observed the phenomenon in open countryside and it was not in sight continuously: “It went out of sight a few times and then reappeared.” He describes the phenomenon indicating: “The object had lights on the front like head lights or landing lights. It had a green flashing light toward the middle or rear. I could not tell any shape or size.” Comparing the phenomenon to a common object he stated, “The lights on the object were the same as on a jet aircraft.”

Regarding the angular size: “My estimate is that the object was the size of a KC-135 [Stratotanker]. I could only tell by the lights on the object.”

According to the Base Operations dispatcher’s log at 3:00 A.M.:

0800 (3:00). Object [S]/E of N-7 moving toward site with [brilliant] light like the sun. Lights flashing on and off. Its too [brilliant] and big for an aircraft now moving south and hovered over N-7, turned green, amber off than on.
0818 (3:18). Below 1,000 feet, hovers somewhat, makes no turns like a jet – straight forward shot.
0819 (3:19). Moving NWW white light on.
0820 (3:20). Object now appears one mile away and moving in on them.
0825 (3:25). Object now reversed direction and moving toward site, now 600 feet from site and lower from 800 feet…