Robert Michael O'Connor Interview, 23 February 2005

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 7 missile site. They reported this sighting to The Wing Security Controller over the vehicle radio."

MO:

Right.

TT:

That's true?

MO:

That's correct.

TT:

Now at one point you mentioned that an F-106 was sent out? At what point in your sighting did that occur?

MO:

I'm not sure. I thought it was before the B-52 came over the area.

TT:

So shortly after you got to the site?

MO:

Yeah. After I had talked to the guy then, you know. I'm damn sure they scrambled two 106's after this thing and it came out there and it disappeared and I think that's when the B-52 got involved, but—

TT:

So just prior to the B-52?

MO:

Just prior to the B-52 these things come screaming over the site where we were and I'm almost 100% sure that that was the way it happened.

TT:

OK. I can't imagine that they wouldn't send the 106's out.

MO:

I know!

TT:

They don't scramble those things for no reason, but Isley doesn't recall that.

MO:

He doesn't recall the 106's?

TT:

I would assume you'd have a better a recall because you were team chief, you were running the radio, you were driving the truck, basically, you were in control of that site. So it would make sense that you would have a better memory. And it was two 106's?

MO:

I'm almost sure two of 'em came screaming over our site. I wanna say that, why would I say that if I didn't feel it was true?

TT:

Yeah, maybe that occurred at some other time, you know what I mean?

MO:

No, they wouldn't, I never saw planes flying over, jets they were always...

TT:

Especially 106s, interceptors. That must be a sight at low level.

MO:

That's a sight when they take off that runway you know, they come blasting down that runway and [snaps fingers] straight up like a rocket and then a big sonic boom. You want to get a thrill, get in one of those helicopters with one of those Viet Nam pilots and chase a herd of Antelope across the plains, prairie—

TT:

So you're gonna stick to that 106 story, I'm not saying you're wrong but I can't find any support for it.

MO:

I wanna say yes, but, then it's been so long ago. See that's the thing, I think I remember that the 106's came screaming over the site, the thing disappeared then the B-52, or then it seemed to come back, and then the B-52 came over and like it was approaching for a landing and I didn't know that.

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