James Partin was a B-52 pilot with 13 years experience in 1968. He was not a regular member of this B-52 crew, but was onboard during this combat training mission being evaluated by the aircraft commander Capt. Cagle.
During the UFO events, Partin was piloting the B-52, and visually observed the UFO on the ground during the low-altitude fly over. After landing, as senior officer he reported to a debriefing in Base Operations, but did not attend the crew debriefing later that morning in the office of Gen. Holland. He was the only member of the crew interviewed during the official investigation, and completed an Air Force Form 117 on Wednesday, 30 October 1968.