Robert Michael O'Connor Interview, 23 February 2005

‹‹ Interview Index
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23

from Airman O'Connor and Isley and an Aircraft Instructor. Much of their discussion and description incorporates the activity of the B-52. It was only at the end that I was able to pinpoint the fact that they did observe a light source and the B-52. You can see the lights of the base for at least 50 miles away."

MO:

From a helicopter!

TT:

"I (Col Werlich) asked if they saw the B-52 come towards the object." You remember him asking you that?

MO:

No.

TT:

"We know the 52 got real close to it. Did they see the object on the ground?" [Lt Marano asked]. Colonel Welich says, "They were able to see a light source while the 52 got in real close then it disappeared."

MO:

From probably when the B-52 was coming over and the thing shot out. I mean it took off. It disappeared.

TT:

It almost sounds like Werlich is saying that at the point the B-52 overflew the object, you were seeing the object from over here on the ground.

MO:

Right. The B-52 was right toward the end of everything, from what I remember.

TT:

Yeah because after that you guys went about your business.

MO:

Right. But I heard Oscar and Juliet and Mike on the radio. We were all on the same channel and I could hear, 'yeah, we, we spotted the object,' whatever, you know and all the stuff was going on for so long, and just going back and forth and it was just so intense.

TT:

I think we asked all the questions and I think we've gotten to the bottom of what your recall is, right?

MO:

It was pretty intense night and, or morning—

TT:

Were you worked up about the whole thing?

MO:

No, actually I remained fairly calm throughout.

TT:

Were you excited at all during—?

MO:

Apprehensive, I wanted to know what it was I was seeing—didn't understand what was going on and just knew that it wasn't normal. I just wanted to report to the base that something was happening that I didn't know what it was.

TT:

Yeah. I mean you guys stopped your work, didn't you?

MO:

Well we were outside for quite a while.

TT:

I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.

MO:

Yeah, not a problem

[Transcript end]

‹‹ Previous Page

23